Skyrim update 1.5 PC beta announced

Bethesda has unveiled details of what to expect from the next major The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim update.

As revealed on the developer's official blog, the new patch fixes a number of glitches and bugs, as well as introducing a new kill camera feature. See the full changelog and trailer below for more details.

Brave PC gamers can download a beta version of the update now via Steam. To access it, click on Steam in the store's top menu bar, then Settings, then open the Account tab. Go to the Beta Participation section and then select Change. Finally, select Skyrim Beta from the drop-down menu.

"If you opt into the Beta, be sure to back up your saved games or simply be careful not to overwrite your existing saves," advised the blog post.

The update will roll out to consoles some time after the full PC launch.

New features:

• New cinematic kill cameras for projectile weapons and spells
• New kill moves and animations for melee weapons
• Shadows on grass available (PC)
• Smithing skill increases now factor in the created item's value
• Improved visual transition when going underwater
• Improved distance LOD transition for snowy landscapes

Bug fixes:

• General crash fixes and memory optimizations
• Fixed issue with Deflect Arrows perk not calculating properly
• In "A Cornered Rat," the death of certain NPCs no longer blocks progression
• Fixed issue where Farkas would not give Companion's quests properly
• Fixed crash when loading saves that rely on data that is no longer being loaded
• Followers sneak properly when player is sneaking
• Fixed issue with weapon racks not working properly in Proudspire Manor
• Arrows and other projectiles that were stuck in objects in the world now clean up properly
• Fixed issue where "Rescue Mission" was preventing "Taking Care of Business" from starting properly
• Fixed issue where certain NPCs would fail to become Thieves Guild fences
• Fixed issue in "Diplomatic Immunity" where killing all the guards in the Thalmor Embassy before starting the quest would break progress
• In "Hard Answers," picking up the dwarven museum key after completing the quest, no longer restarts the quest
• Killing Viola before or after "Blood on the Ice" no longer blocks progression
• Fixed issue where Calixto would fail to die properly in "Blood on the Ice"
• In "Waking Nightmare" fixed occasional issue where Erandur would stop pathing properly
• Fixed issue where letters and notes with random encounters would appear blank
• Fixed rare issue where dialogue and shouts would improperly play
• Lydia will now offer marriage option after player purchases Breezehome in Whiterun
• Fixed issue where if player manually mined ore in Cidhna Mine, jail time would not be served
• Fixed rare issue with skills not increasing properly
• Fixed issue where the Headsman's Axe did not gain proper buff from Barbarian perk
• In "A Night to Remember" it is no longer possible to kill Ysolda, Ennis or Senna before starting the quest
• Fixed issue with the ebony dagger having a weapon speed that was too slow
• Fixed issue with "The Wolf Queen Awakened" where backing out of a conversation with Styrr too soon would block progress
• The third level of the Limbsplitter perk now properly improves all battle axes
• Fixed a rare issue where Sanguine Rose would not work properly
• In "Tending the Flames" King Olaf's Verse will no longer disappear from explosions