Under Automatic Updates, change the setting to
Below is a concise essay on that topic.
: Version 1.6.640 benefits from the 64-bit architecture of Special Edition, providing much better memory management than the original 2011 release. Crashing due to "running out of RAM" is virtually non-existent on this build if your load order is sorted. Mod Compatibility skyrim+skse+16640+2021
When Bethesda released the Anniversary Edition (AE) in November 2021, it upgraded the game's compiler from Visual Studio 2015 to Visual Studio 2019. This code change broke nearly every existing SKSE plugin, dividing the community into specific version ecosystems. Version 1.6.640 became one of the most stable, widely targeted baselines for modern Skyrim modding. Understanding the 1.6.640 Ecosystem
This compiler switch immediately broke the and every single mod relying on a C++ dynamic link library ( .dll ) file. The community fractured into two camps: Under Automatic Updates, change the setting to Below
On November 11, 2021, Bethesda released the patch. This dropped alongside the fundamental game engine update changing the version number from 1.5.x (Special Edition) to 1.6.x . Even if a player did not purchase the Anniversary Edition DLC package, Steam and GOG updated the core SkyrimSE.exe executable to the 1.6 architecture.
Modding (the "stable" 2022-2023 version of the Anniversary Edition) with SKSE 2.2.3 is often called a "middle-ground" approach in the modding community. While it is highly stable, it has become a "middle child" version—stuck between the highly compatible older 1.5.97 and the current 1.6.1170+ versions. The Setup: Version Matching Game Version : 1.6.640 (Steam) or 1.6.659 (GOG). Understanding the 1
And the smoke-gray silhouette of a seated figure—faceted, wrong, patient—sat behind the menu options, waiting for someone to click Continue .
If you are choosing to stay on version 1.6.640, you must actively prevent Steam from updating your game to the newest version. Steam does not natively allow you to disable updates completely, but you can bypass this limitation. Method 1: Set AppManifest to Read-Only (Safest)
From a deep content perspective, the update to 1.6.640 altered several structural elements of the game:
Once SKSE is installed, you’ll need these "fix" mods to ensure your other plugins work correctly:
