Bring your own data
Open source, responsibly built
Mudcrab does not include or distribute copyrighted game assets. A legally purchased copy of Skyrim Special Edition supplies the source data.
A new foundation
An engine made for the world beyond the loading screen.
Mudcrab rethinks the runtime beneath Skyrim Special Edition while respecting the game and modding ecosystem people already know. It modernizes legacy formats for a fast, stream-friendly engine without shipping any proprietary game data.
The project translates original data into modern runtime formats, then runs it in a Bevy-powered engine with a focus on performance, extensibility, and seamless exploration.
Read the legal noticeEngine highlights
Built to make the old world feel new.
A modern engine architecture replaces historical constraints with systems designed for performance, modding, and long-running exploration.
01 · Seamless world
No loading screens
Stream interiors, exteriors, and cities in real time with libSQL spatial R-Tree indexing and rkyv zero-copy memory mapping.
02 · Bevy + Rust
High-FPS rendering
Batched instanced indirect draw calls reduce 5,000+ individual draws to under 100 per frame on Bevy 0.19.
03 · Luau Engine
JIT scripting for modders
Sandboxed Luau via mlua replaces single-threaded Papyrus with high-performance execution and async HTTP networking.
04 · GPU-native data
glTF 2.0 & KTX2
Legacy .nif, .dds, and .esm records are converted into GPU-native glTF 2.0, KTX2 Basis Universal, and SQLite 3 formats.
From data to world
A modern path from original files to the game.
Mudcrab keeps game data separate from the engine and transforms it into formats suited to a contemporary renderer and runtime.
- 01
Game data
Your legally owned Skyrim Special Edition installation.
- 02
Converter
Assets and records are prepared for Mudcrab’s runtime.
- 03
Modern formats
Stream-friendly data for graphics, world state, and scripts.
- 04
Bevy engine
A connected world powered by the new Mudcrab runtime.
In development
Building the engine, one system at a time.
Mudcrab is actively developed in focused milestones that move from data conversion and runtime foundations to gameplay and platform support.
01
Asset modernization
Convert legacy game formats into modern runtime data.
02
Core engine
Build the Bevy runtime, renderer, streaming, and profiling foundations.
03
Scripting and launcher
Develop Luau integration, modern UI, and a built-in setup experience.
04
Gameplay and persistence
Implement core systems for physics, animation, combat, and save states.
05
Platforms and networking
Extend the engine across devices and explore future multiplayer support.
Get involved
Help shape the next engine.
Whether you work in Rust, build mods, improve documentation, or test new systems, there is room to contribute to Mudcrab.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
The important details about Mudcrab, game data, and the project’s independence.
No. Mudcrab does not distribute proprietary game assets, artwork, audio, or game data. You supply data from your own legally purchased copy of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition.
Yes. A legally purchased copy is required to provide the original game data that Mudcrab converts for use with the engine.
No. Mudcrab is an independent, open-source project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Bethesda Softworks, ZeniMax Media, or Microsoft.