HomeNews
Now Starfield’s out, Bethesda’s PR and publishing honcho Pete Hines is retiring after 20-plus years at the studio“The time is right”
“The time is right”
Image credit:Bethesda Game Studios
Image credit:Bethesda Game Studios
Pete Hines, head of publishing atElder Scrolls,FalloutandStarfieldstudio Bethesda, is retiring. One of the most public faces at the developer behind perhaps only Toddy H himself, Hines has played a prominent role in the release of their biggest games for close to the last quarter-of-a-century - but says that the “time is right” to move on to “an exciting new chapter of my life”.
To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings
To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings
To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings
Hines joined Bethesda in 1999 - literally last century (have an existential crisis about that as necessary) - helping to head up its global marketing and communications output as senior VP ahead of the release of Morrowind in 2002. In the time since, he played a huge part in the release of the studio’s widely beloved and acclaimed Oblivion,Fallout 3andSkyrim(as well as the many, many re-releases of Skyrim across multiple generations and even VR), as well as helping ride the studio through rockier times around the release ofFallout 76and this year’sRedfall.
Image credit:Bethesda Softworks
The release of Starfield - said to beBethesda’s biggest launch to date- apparently inspired Hines to move on after 24 years at the publisher.
“I am retiring and will begin an exciting new chapter of my life exploring interests and passions, donating my time where I can, and taking more time to enjoy life,” Hines wrote on TwiXer. “This was not a decision I came to easily or quickly, but after an amazing career, culminating in the incredible launch of Starfield, it feels like the time is right.”
Hines went on to thank Bethesda’s fans, and called working at the company “the greatest experience of my life”.
pic.twitter.com/dhZEmRbzjz— Pete Hines (@DCDeacon)October 16, 2023
pic.twitter.com/dhZEmRbzjz
Intheir own announcement, Bethesda said that “Pete’s public presence was only a small part of his role at Bethesda, although the way he represented us carried over into the values he nurtured here: authenticity, integrity and passion”.
“His contributions have been integral in building Bethesda and its family of studios into the world-class organization that it is today. His vision helped push us forward, and his hard work inspired us.”
In a heartfelt nod to Hines’ own gimmick of providing doctor’s note templates for players to use to be excused from school or work on the day launch day of their new games, Bethesda alsorepliedto Hines’ announcement with a doctor’s note asking to “please excuse Pete Hines from work” and prescribing him “ongoing treatment” in the form of gaming, collecting cards “in all forms” (including Magic: The Gathering), looking after foster dogs, and “having fun with friends in the community”.
It’s unclear what Bethesda’s first game in over two decades without Hines involved will be just yet, but we do know that bothThe Elder Scrolls 6andFallout 5are on the cards-if not for a good while yet.
