These files tell Skyrim to override default behaviors, such as “use this mesh and texture for this sword.” Simple texture replacers usually do not have these.

These files, if installed after any other file, will override with their own content.ĮSP files are plugin files for Bethesda games with a “.esp” extension. It doesn’t include other compressed files. These are (usually) texture files for the game that are not packed within a BSA file. They can be installed with any method listed below, but they must be housed within the data folder only, no other folder before or after. If you need an original file for any reason, or need to get into a mod’s BSA, use a BSA utility program and grab it from there. This is okay! Programs like BSA Browser allow you to view the contents or unpack them like regular zipped files. When a file is within the BSA, it’s not within the other data files like textures. Mod files can come with these extensions as well. These are compressed files created exclusively for the game company Bethesda. Many of the original game’s files are wrapped up in a Bethesda Software Archive (called BSA) and have a “. Skyrim’s eye area mesh includes protrusions for eyelashes. Meshes can be very simple with no real defining nooks and crannies. It literally looks like mesh shaped into an object.

Meshes are graphs used to define shape, size, and other information about models. It does an excellent job of breaking down every part of the texture file set. For an in-depth explanation, you can go to this page on the Nexus Wiki. Everything visible in a game has a texture. Textures are the “skins” of objects you see in a game. You can go to the STEP Wiki for information on how to install. It’s a more complicated process of updating Skyrim’s visuals. Note: This guide doesn’t go into how to create new meshes, nor does it go into personally reworking existing models. I’m still learning to create personal custom textures.ĮNB, another great enhancement tool, I won’t cover.

In this guide I’ll be explaining and showing examples of how I change textures in Skyrim from mods. Within a game like Skyrim, there are a few ways to update just the visual elements for customization purposes.

Skyrim missing body textures