Bethesda Game Studios

Last updated

Bethesda Game Studios
Company type Division
Industry Video games
Founded2001;23 years ago (2001)
Headquarters
Rockville, Maryland
,
US
Key people
Products
Number of employees
>450 (2023)
Parent Bethesda Softworks
Website bethesdagamestudios.com

Bethesda Game Studios is an American video game developer and a studio of ZeniMax Media based in Rockville, Maryland. It is best known for its action role-playing franchises, including The Elder Scrolls , Fallout , and Starfield . Bethesda Game Studios was established in 2001 as the development unit of Bethesda Softworks, separating from publishing operations. Todd Howard serves as the studio's executive producer, leading it with managing director Ashley Cheng and studio director Angela Browder. As of November 2023, Bethesda Game Studios had 450 employees. [1]

Contents

History

Bethesda Game Studios was established in 2001. Previously, Bethesda Softworks, then a developer and publisher, had been reorganized as a subsidiary of ZeniMax Media. ZeniMax's Robert A. Altman sought to grow the development unit, which was spun off from Bethesda Softworks as Bethesda Game Studios, starting out with roughly 40 people. [2] [3]

By 2008, Bethesda Game Studios was considered one of the industry's top developers on the reputation of The Elder Scrolls fantasy universe and the critically acclaimed Fallout 3 . Bethesda had created a unique role for itself, “spending years to create massive, open-world, single-player RPGs — hardly a booming genre in the industry at large — to great success, bringing a once-niche PC genre to a broad multiplatform audience,” wrote Gamasutra in their year-end best-of list. [4]

In December 2015, Bethesda Game Studios opened a satellite studio in Montreal under the leadership of Yves Lachance, the former head of Behaviour Interactive. [5] In 2018, two ZeniMaxi-owned studios became part of Bethesda Game Studios: BattleCry Studios was renamed Bethesda Game Studios Austin in March, and Escalation Studios was turned into Bethesda Game Studios Dallas in August. [6] [7] Microsoft acquired ZeniMax in March 2021. [8] [9]

Technology

Satellite studios

Games developed

Bethesda Game Studios has principally been involved in the development of role-playing video games with their The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series for consoles and personal computers, most of which have been commercially and critically successful. [10] [11]

In 2015, the studio entered into the mobile gaming market with Fallout Shelter based on the same franchise, which gained 50 million players by mid-2016. In February 2017, Howard said that they are in development of another mobile title following onto the success of Fallout Shelter. [12] This was revealed in 2018 to be The Elder Scrolls: Blades .

In 2016, Howard confirmed that while they are developing The Elder Scrolls VI , it was still a long way to the game's release. Meanwhile, two other significant projects are in development which are expected to be released prior to The Elder Scrolls VI. [13] On May 30, 2018, Fallout 76 was announced. [14] On June 10, 2018, during Bethesda's E3 2018 conference, the other project in development was revealed to be the company's first new intellectual property in 25 years, Starfield . During the 2021 Xbox/Bethesda Games Showcase, Starfield was announced to be releasing exclusively for PC and Xbox Series X/S. Starfield released on September 6, 2023. [15] [16] On June 14, 2022, Howard confirmed that Fallout 5 would start development after the completion of The Elder Scrolls VI, with the latter currently in the pre-production phase of development. [17]

YearTitlePlatform(s)
2002 The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Windows, Xbox
2004 IHRA Professional Drag Racing 2005 PlayStation 2, Xbox
2006 IHRA Drag Racing: Sportsman Edition PlayStation 2, Windows, Xbox
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360
2008 Fallout 3
2011 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
2015 Fallout Shelter Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
Fallout 4 PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
2016 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Special Edition Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
2017 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR PlayStation 4, Windows
Fallout 4 VR Windows
2018 Fallout 76 PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
2020 The Elder Scrolls: Blades Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch [18]
2023The Elder Scrolls: CastlesAndroid [19]
Starfield Windows, Xbox Series X/S
TBA The Elder Scrolls VI TBA

Expansion packs

YearTitleGamePlatform(s)
2002 Tribunal The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Windows, Xbox
2003 Bloodmoon
2006 Knights of the Nine The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360
2007 Shivering Isles
2009 Operation: Anchorage Fallout 3
The Pitt
Broken Steel
Point Lookout
Mothership Zeta
2012 Dawnguard The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Hearthfire
Dragonborn
2016 Automatron Fallout 4 PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
Wasteland Workshop
Far Harbor
Contraptions Workshop
Vault-Tec Workshop
Nuka-World
2020The Pitt [20] Fallout 76
Steel Reign [21]
Steel Dawn [22]
Wastelanders [23]
TBAShattered Space Starfield Windows, Xbox Series X/S

Awards

Related Research Articles

Bethesda Softworks LLC is an American video game publisher based in Rockville, Maryland. The company was founded by Christopher Weaver in 1986 as a division of Media Technology Limited. In 1999, it became a subsidiary of ZeniMax Media. In its first 15 years, it was a video game developer and self-published its titles. In 2001, Bethesda spun off its in-house development team into Bethesda Game Studios, leaving Bethesda Softworks to focus on publishing operations.

The Elder Scrolls is a series of action role-playing video games primarily developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. The series focuses on free-form gameplay in an open world. Morrowind, Oblivion and Skyrim all won Game of the Year awards from multiple outlets. The series has sold more than 58 million copies worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xbox Game Studios</span> American video game publisher

Xbox Game Studios is an American video game publisher based in Redmond, Washington. It was established in March 2000, spun out from an internal Games Group, for the development and publishing of video games for Microsoft Windows. It has since expanded to include games and other interactive entertainment for the namesake Xbox platforms, other desktop operating systems, Windows Mobile and other mobile platforms, and web-based portals.

<i>The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion</i> 2006 video game

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a 2006 action role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios, and co-published by Bethesda Softworks and 2K Games. It is the fourth installment in The Elder Scrolls series, following 2002's The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, and was released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 in 2006, followed by PlayStation 3 in 2007. Taking place within the fictional province of Cyrodiil, the game's main story focuses on the player character's efforts to thwart a fanatical cult known as the Mythic Dawn that plans to open portal gates to a demonic realm known as Oblivion.

Arkane Studios SASU is a French video game developer based in Lyon. It was founded in 1999, and released its first game, Arx Fatalis, in 2002. Besides the Lyon studio, Arkane Lyon, Arkane Studios operates Arkane Studios LLC in Austin, Texas, since July 2006. The studio created the popular Dishonored series as well as developing Prey (2017), Deathloop (2021) and Redfall (2023). Marvel's Blade is under development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Howard</span> American video game designer, director, and producer

Todd Andrew Howard is an American video game designer, director, and producer. He serves as director and executive producer at Bethesda Game Studios, where he has led the development of the Fallout and The Elder Scrolls series.

ZeniMax Media Inc. is an American video game holding company based in Rockville, Maryland, and founded in 1999.

Development of <i>The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion</i> Development of 2006 video game

The development of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion began in 2002, immediately after its predecessor, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, was published. Rumors of a sequel to Morrowind started circulating in June 2004; the sequel's title was identified on September 10, 2004, the date of its official announcement. Oblivion was developed by Bethesda Game Studios, and the initial Xbox 360 and personal computer (PC) releases were co-published by Bethesda Softworks and Take-Two Interactive's subsidiary, 2K Games. According to interviews with Bethesda staff, the publisher-developer relationship—one of the few independent relations in the industry—worked well, and Bethesda was not subject to excessive corporate guidance. Initially scheduled for a November 22, 2005, release, in tandem with the Xbox 360's launch, Oblivion was delayed to a March 21, 2006, release for Windows PCs and the Xbox 360.

ZeniMax Online Studios LLC is an American video game developer and a subsidiary of ZeniMax Media, specializing in massively multiplayer online games. The company developed The Elder Scrolls Online and its downloadable content. ZeniMax Online Studios had around 250 employees in 2012. In addition to the main Hunt Valley, Maryland based office, ZeniMax Online also maintains a satellite studio in Budapest, Hungary as well as a customer support center in Galway, Ireland and an additional office in Austin, Texas.

<i>The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim</i> 2011 video game

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a 2011 action role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the fifth main installment in The Elder Scrolls series, following The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006), and was released worldwide for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 on November 11, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Creation Engine</span> Video game engine

Creation Engine is a 3D video game engine created by Bethesda Game Studios based on the Gamebryo engine. The Creation Engine has been used to create role-playing video games such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76. A new iteration of the engine, Creation Engine 2, was used to create Starfield. The Creation Engine has been tailor-made for large-scale open-world RPGs.

<i>The Elder Scrolls Online</i> 2014 video game

The Elder Scrolls Online, abbreviated ESO, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by ZeniMax Online Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game is a part of the Elder Scrolls series. It was released for Windows and macOS in April 2014, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in June 2015, and for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in June 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethesda Game Studios Austin</span> American video game developer

Bethesda Game Studios Austin LLC is an American video game developer based in Austin, Texas. Founded within ZeniMax Media as BattleCry Studios in 2012, the studio initially developed BattleCry until its cancellation in 2015. After working with its sister studios Bethesda Game Studios and id Software on multiple projects, BattleCry Studios became part of Bethesda Game Studios as Bethesda Game Studios Austin in March 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethesda Game Studios Dallas</span> American video game developer

Bethesda Game Studios Dallas LLC is an American video game developer based in Dallas. Founded in 2007 by Tom Mustaine, Marc Tardif, and Shawn Green, the company was briefly owned by 6waves Lolapps (6L) in 2012 but returned to independence after the publisher laid off all development staff. ZeniMax Media acquired Escalation Studios in February 2017, and it became part of Bethesda Game Studios as Bethesda Game Studios Dallas in August 2018.

The Elder Scrolls VI is an upcoming action role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It will be the sixth main installment in The Elder Scrolls series, following 2011's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The game is expected to be released for Windows and Xbox consoles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Creation Club</span>

Creations is a system of microtransactions designed by Bethesda Game Studios for its games Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Special Edition. The system was launched for Fallout 4 on August 29, 2017.

<i>Starfield</i> (video game) 2023 video game

Starfield is a 2023 action role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. In the game, the player character joins a group of space explorers who must venture to various corners of the galaxy to acquire mysterious artifacts. The game features an open world in the form of an area within the Milky Way galaxy, containing both fictional and non-fictional planetary systems.

The film industry and video game industry have a long and detailed common history – the two industries have collaborated many times since the 1980s. This includes collaboration between people from both industries and projects resulting in products such as video games, film adaptations of video games, among other things.

References

  1. ↑ "Todd Howard Breaks Down His Video Game Career". YouTube . November 15, 2023. Event occurs at 15:05. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Bethesda Joins Xbox – Roundtable". YouTube . March 11, 2021. Event occurs at 1:02:27. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  3. ↑ "The History of Bethesda Game Studios - Elder Scrolls / Fallout Documentary". June 5, 2018. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018– via YouTube.
  4. 1 2 Carless, Simon; Remo, Chris; Nutt, Christian; Alexander, Leigh; Eric, Caoili (December 31, 2008). "Gamasutra's Best Of 2008". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on August 23, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  5. ↑ Kato, Matthew (December 9, 2015). "Bethesda Opens New Studio In Montreal". Game Informer . Archived from the original on December 12, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  6. ↑ Dring, Christopher (March 9, 2018). "BattleCry Studios becomes third Bethesda Game Studios office". GamesIndustry.biz . Archived from the original on March 9, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  7. ↑ Fogel, Stefanie (August 10, 2018). "Escalation Studios Is Now Bethesda Game Studios Dallas". Variety . Archived from the original on August 10, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  8. ↑ Bass, Dina; Schreier, Jason (September 21, 2020). "Microsoft to Buy Bethesda for $7.5 Billion to Boost Xbox". Bloomberg News . Archived from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  9. ↑ Robinson, Andy (March 9, 2021). "Microsoft confirms its Bethesda acquisition is complete and 'some games' will be exclusive". Video Games Chronicle . Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  10. ↑ Petty, Jared (June 14, 2016). "Bethesda Says Two Upcoming Games Are as Big as Skyrim and Fallout". IGN. Archived from the original on October 31, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  11. ↑ Davidson, John (February 18, 2017). "Bethesda's Todd Howard Hints at 3 New Games". Glixel . Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  12. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (February 17, 2017). "Skyrim Director Teases Next Mobile Game". GameSpot . Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  13. ↑ Chalk, Andy (June 14, 2016). "The Elder Scrolls 6 is in development, Todd Howard confirms". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  14. ↑ Schreier, Jason (May 30, 2018). "Bethesda Announces Fallout: 76". Kotaku. Archived from the original on June 3, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  15. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (June 13, 2021). "Starfield Release Date Set For November 11, 2022 As Exclusive To Xbox And PC". GameSpot . Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  16. ↑ Stanton, Rich (May 12, 2022). "Of course Starfield is delayed—what did you expect?". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  17. ↑ Skrebels, Joe (June 14, 2022). "Todd Howard Confirms Fallout 5 Is Coming After Elder Scrolls 6". IGN. Archived from the original on June 20, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  18. ↑ Fenlon, Wes (June 11, 2018). "The Elder Scrolls: Blades is a free-to-play RPG coming to PC and mobile this fall". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on June 11, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  19. ↑ Ivan, Tom (September 29, 2023). "Bethesda has surprise launched The Elder Scrolls: Castles". Video Games Chronicle . Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  20. ↑ "The Pitt". Fallout 76. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Steel Reign". Fallout 76. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Steel Dawn". Fallout 76. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Wastelanders". Fallout 76. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  24. ↑ "SpikeTV Video Game Awards 2011". Spike (TV network) . Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Nominees | The Game Awards 2015". The Game Awards . Ola Balola. November 12, 2015. Archived from the original on November 14, 2015. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
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