Is it possible to install this game without Steam?

[ClanRanald21]

Hi, I am having eternal issues about playing this game within Steam. I set the game up with SK Script Extender64 so I can play the game with mods I like, but then Steam updates the game and renders everything useless by removing the sound and ability to start a new game? Does anyone know a workaround without Steam trying to micro manage your sock drawer?

[Jeir]

Steam is a requirement of both versions of Skyrim (LE and SE).

Turn off auto-updates, and only launch the game with SKSE64 (unless you actually want it to update). There's also the .exe auto-backup utility you can use (read the documentation).

[anjenthedog]

No you cannot run Skyrim without Steam (and although I could be wrong, afaik, nor can you install it without steam). However, you can run the Steam client in offline mode. I not only do that, but I also disable the network card, since I often used to see an odd (and to me, a slightly disturbing) spike in network traffic when launching skyrim (via SKSE64_loader), even with steam in offline mode, vortex closed, and no browsers or other network apps open.

[ClanRanald21]

Thanks so much Boops, I think its the auto updates that screw up your modded game! Lets hope Steam go out of existence before the launch of TES6!

[anjenthedog]

don't bet on it ClanRanald2, they're the distribution arm, and to some degree are Bethseda's (and other game maker's) "ward" against software piracy. for better or worse.

[Algabar]

TBH, those pesky Steam updates (mostly just for promoting some Creation Club stuff) used to be a real pain in the rear.

 

Nowadays they aren't any more. Skyrim SE wasn't updated for months now. So "forced updates" (which you can avoid as said above) aren't a real "danger" any more.