Because of the stability of this version, mod author halgari (of Wabbajack fame) and Nexus Mods users popularized the Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Downgrader . This tool allows owners of the Anniversary Edition (v1.6.640 or v1.6.1170) to revert their game files specifically to v1.5.97.0 while retaining the new AE Creation Club content.
Infinite loading screen (ILS) on saves. Solution: You are missing the SSE Engine Fixes (Part 2) DLL. Ensure you placed the EngineFixes.dll and EngineFixes_preload.txt in Data/SKSE/Plugins/ .
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If you are running this version, you must ensure you have the matching mod tools. You cannot use the "Next Gen" or "Anniversary" versions of these tools.
Because of this, many modding guides and complex mod lists specifically require you to stay on this version to ensure mods work correctly.
With this load order, you can achieve visuals that rival Starfield and combat that outpaces Elden Ring—all on a 14-year-old game engine that Bethesda left behind.