Ex-Bethesda boss Pete Hines criticizes Xbox Game Pass, highlighting how short-sighted decisions in subscription-based gaming are harming content creators and questioning the sustainability of the model, despite its popularity and perceived value.
Pete Hines, former Bethesda executive, reflected on his biggest mistake involving the Fallout 76 Power Armor Edition, where a shortage of canvas bags led to the inclusion of cheaper nylon bags, and his failure to promptly address the issue with customers. Despite initial compensation plans, Bethesda later allowed affected players to request canvas bags, highlighting a notable misstep in quality control and communication.
Former Bethesda marketing executive Pete Hines revealed he strongly opposed the name 'Prey' for the 2017 game, believing it caused unnecessary confusion and distraction, but ultimately lost the battle to keep the name, which was chosen for its thematic relevance despite no direct connection to the original Prey game.
Pete Hines, a key executive at Bethesda Softworks, has announced his retirement from the company after nearly 25 years. Hines played a significant role in the studio's marketing and communications, and was known for his public presence representing Bethesda. The announcement comes shortly after the successful release of Bethesda's new game, Starfield.
Bethesda's Pete Hines confirms that The Elder Scrolls 6 is in early development, but emphasizes that Starfield remains the studio's priority. Hines states that fans should not expect any updates on The Elder Scrolls 6 anytime soon, as the focus is currently on making Starfield the best it can be. The release of The Elder Scrolls 6 is not expected until at least 2028.
A leaked image of Starfield's start menu sparked a "controversy" on social media, with some criticizing the simplicity of the menu and questioning the team's dedication. Mark Kern, a former Blizzard employee, suggested that the start screen indicated rushed development or a lack of care. However, fans defended Bethesda, pointing out that similar start screens were present in their previous successful games. Bethesda's head of publishing, Pete Hines, joined the discussion, stating that the menu design was intentional and had been settled on early in development. Starfield is set to release on September 6, with reviews going live on August 31.
Bethesda's Head of Publishing, Pete Hines, reassured fans that there is nothing to worry about regarding the state of Starfield at launch, despite the lack of information on preloading and the game going "gold." Hines urged fans to "take a deep breath" and expressed confidence in his team's abilities. The anxieties stem from the reputation of Bethesda games being buggy, but fans will have to wait until September 6, 2023, to see how Starfield performs on PC and Xbox Series X|S.