After giving Xbox 360 gamers a head start on September 4, Bethesda has finally launched the PC version of its Hearthfire DLC for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on Steam. This downloadable content pack will set fans back $4.99, a mere sliver of a penny compared to how much it would really cost to purchase land and build a home from the ground up.
In Hearthfire, players can purchase a plot of land in the salt marshes of Hjaalmarch, the forests of Falkreath, or the vast tundra of The Pale – more ambitious landowners can even purchase multiple plots and start building a real estate empire. After that, players can whip out their Minecraft skills, a drafting table, and a carpenter's workbench to turn raw materials – like stone, clay, and sawn logs – into a dream house, room by room.
"Build simple rooms like kitchens and libraries, attach a greenhouse, enchantress tower, or alchemy lab to grow and craft your own items in-house," Bethesda explained. "Use the interior workbench to furnish each room with a large variety of craft-able objects. Showcase your treasures with simple display cases. Impress your friends with elaborate trophies and even mounted mud crabs."
In addition to building a house, players can tune in to their "Sims" skills by taking on a spouse and a couple of children. This should bring an interesting twist to an already-engulfing Skyrim, as players must not only defend their property from locals like vicious wolves, kidnappers and annoying giants, but they must protect the family in the process. When things go quiet, gamers must play with the kids, allow them to have pets, and so on... you know, family stuff.
"Guard your home from unwanted visitors like marauding kidnappers, armed bandits, and skeever infestations," reads the description. "Turn almost any follower into your personal steward to improve and protect your home. Or if you require more help, hire a personal bard or carriage driver to ease the burdens of home ownership."
In addition to the new DLC, Steam is now selling The Elder Scrolls Collection for half the price, costing $59.98 instead of $119.96. This pack consists of four PC-based Elder Scrolls games: Skyrim, the Dawnguard DLC, Oblivion (Game of the Year Edition), and Morrowind (Game of the Year Edition). This Midweek Madness sale ends later today.
