After the release of the new RPG Starfield, developers began to leave Bethesda. And, against the backdrop of this, fans of the studio are anxiously imagining what will happen if Todd Howard retires.
Bethesda Chief Marketing Officer Pete Hines announced his retirement this week after 24 years at the studio. Immediately after this, it became known that chief quest designer Will Shen was moving to a new project in the open world genre, which was being worked on by veterans of Fallout 4 and Skyrim.
Such situations are common. Both developers are Bethesda veterans who have worked on Starfield for years. But for some studio fans, these departures foreshadow a much more significant event: Howard’s departure.
IN thread on Reddit The following comments about Hines’ decision gained popularity:
I can’t imagine what the Bethesda project would be like without Todd’s influence.
Todd is Bethesda and TES is Todd.
It’s important to understand that large games have hundreds of people working on them, and the focus on individual names can sometimes be misleading. But of course, Todd Howard is the face of Bethesda. And Starfield was often called “Howard’s baby.” Perhaps she really will be the last new creation.
Many Starfield players expressed similar sentiments.
Only Todd Howard has the same connection to Bethesda for me.
I hope that when Todd decides to retire, the torch will be passed on to worthy successors.
Howard, now 53, is considering continuing his career, but not indefinitely—he’s no Kojima. In June, he hinted that The Elder Scrolls 6 might be his last game. However, with release still at least three to four years away, and Fallout 5 still several years after that, it’s likely that Howard will remain in his position for another ten years.
While The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 are still hidden from the public, Howard’s influence on what form the games will take cannot be underestimated. However, it is worth understanding that his powers are not endless.
