Bethesda, developers of Skyrim, have today released the beta version of the 1.4 patch update.

Its quite uncommon for a beta to be released just for a patch but it is believed that there is risk when updating.

The patch is only available to those who can access Steam’s beta functionality.

Here is a quick run down of what the patch does:

• Skyrim launcher support for Steam Workshop*

• General optimizations for memory and performance

• Optimized bookshelf script in player-owned houses that would occasionally cause active scripts to lag and also cause an increase to saved games filesize (PS3)

• Improved compiler optimization settings

• Memory optimizations related to scripting

• Fixed crashes related to pathing and AI

• Fixed crash in Haemar’s Shame if player had already completed “A Daedra’s Best Friend”

• Fixed rare crash with loading saved games

• Fixed issue with accented characters not displaying properly at the end of a line

• Fixed issue where quests would incorrectly progress after reloading a save

• Fixed issues with placing and removing books from bookshelves in the player’s home

• Fixed issue where weapon racks and plaques would not work correctly in player’s house if player immediately visits their house before purchasing any furnishing.

• Fixed issue where the player house in Windhelm would not clean up properly

• Fixed crash related to giant attacks and absorb spells

• Fixed issue with ash piles not cleaning up properly

• Fixed occasional issue where overwriting an existing save would fail

• Fixed memory crash with container menu

• Fixed infinite loop with bookshelves

• Fixed issue where traps in Shalidor’s Maze would not work properly in French, German, Spanish and Italian versions

• Fixed issue where transforming back to human from werewolf would occasionally fail

• Bows and daggers will display properly when placed on weapon racks