Pete Hines is the former Head of Publishing at Bethesda, staying with the company from 1999 through to 2023. He left following Microsoft’s acquisition, and in a recent interview with Firezide Chat, he has some strong words to share.
That said, it is not all negative. Hines also reflects positively on his time at Bethesda, including his long-standing relationship with Todd Howard, who he says remains one of his best friends. However, when the interview turns to the period following the acquisition, the tone becomes noticeably more critical. So let’s jump in.
Pete Hines questions Bethesda’s direction under Microsoft
Pete Hines doesn’t hold back in this interview, but it’s worth being clear about the context. Rather than directly targeting Microsoft, his comments seem to reflect his experience during the period after the acquisition.
So instead of padding this out, let’s go straight to what he said in a recent Firezide Gaming interview.
In the interview, Hines states:
Truthfully, I still think Bethesda is just part of something that is not authentic and is not genuine. And that shouldn't be a surprise to you
Pete Hines
It’s a striking take on Bethesda’s current position. While he doesn’t explicitly mention Microsoft here, the timing and broader discussion suggest he is reflecting on the post-acquisition period.
He also explains why he stayed on for a time after the deal, stating:
I was staying there because this place still needs me. I just hit a point of yes, it needs me, and I am powerless to do what I think needs to be done to run this place properly, to protect these people, to maintain what we worked so hard to create, which is an incredibly efficient, well run video game developer and publisher
Pete Hines
That sense of frustration continues as he adds:
"When I couldn't protect it, and I saw how it was getting damaged and broken apart and frankly mistreated, abused, whatever word you want to use, I said I am not going to sit here and watch this happen right in front of me."
Hines also states his “mental health was so deplorable” that he ultimately had to leave.
Taken together, the comments point to a broader shift in environment and responsibilities following the acquisition, alongside his declining mental health, rather than a direct, explicit criticism of Microsoft itself, at least that's how I read it anyway.
Now, these aren't exactly kind words from Hines overall, but they do reflect how strongly he feels about Bethesda and the changes he believes took place.
With all that said, let me know your thoughts on what Hines has said by leaving a comment and taking part in our poll below:
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