Pete Hines, Bethesda’s Head of Publishing is leaving the corporate after 24 years. Pete Hines, Head of Publishing at Bethesda Softworks is leaving the corporate after 24 years. Bethesda, which is now owned by Microsoft, is the writer of beloved franchises akin to Fallout, Doom, Wolfenstein, and The Elder Scrolls, and it not too long ago launched its first new IP in 25 years with the sci-fi RPG Starfield.
In response to his LinkedIn profile, Hines joined Bethesda again in 1999 as SVP of International Advertising and marketing and Communications. He turned the corporate’s Head of Publishing in October 2022, and he’s been one in every of Bethesda’s most recognizable faces together with online game designer Todd Howard. Within the announcement posted on X, Hines stated that he was “retiring” to discover different passions and take “extra time to take pleasure in life.”
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— Pete Hines (@DCDeacon) October 16, 2023
“This was not a call I got here to simply or rapidly, however after an incredible profession, culminating within the unbelievable launch of Starfield, it feels just like the time is correct,” Hines wrote. The long-time Bethesda govt added that “working with the superb individuals, groups, and studios at Bethesda has been the best expertise of my life.
Hines’ retirement comes at a time when Microsoft’s recreation division is investing massively to develop its first-party manufacturing. Earlier than Microsoft accomplished its $68 billion Activision Blizzard on Friday, the corporate’s acquisition of Zenimax Media/Bethesda for $7.5 billion in 2021 was the corporate’s fourth largest acquisition ever.
This yr, the primary Xbox-exclusive Bethesda video games haven’t generated the identical stage of enthusiasm. Hello-Fi Rush, a shock launch in late January acquired glorious critiques, but it surely was adopted by the critically panned Redfall. Starfield, one of many most-anticipated video games of the yr has been a important and in style success, crossing 10 million gamers since its launch on September 6. Nonetheless, it might not find yourself on avid gamers’ GOTY lists in a yr the place Baldur’s Gate 3, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, or Marvel’s Spiderman 2 acquired extra important acclaim.
Hines stated right now that he’s to see the “superb issues” that Bethesda has within the pipeline. Up to now, the one video games that we all know are in improvement are an untitled Indiana Jones recreation from Wolfenstein developer MachineGames, and Bethesda Recreation Studios has already began engaged on The Elder Scrolls VI, which is now confirmed to be an Xbox/PC unique.
