Starfield, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Fallout 4 are all notorious for the big worlds. And Bethesda Game Studios is going to keep making console games with that kind of scope, according to director Todd Howard.
Todd Howard says he likes making big worlds
Howard spoke about his penchant for big virtual worlds in an interview on Kinda Funny Xcast when asked if Bethesda Game Studios would like to make a small game for a change. He said that the team had created Fallout Shelter, a mobile game that eventually came to other platforms, but said the Bethesda Game Studios’ primary projects will be the large games players have come to expect.
“At the end of the day, as a player, I like the big worlds that I can get lost in,” said Howard. “That’s why many of us here wanted to make games, and it’s really, really rewarding for us, and we’re just so thankful for the opportunity [to be able to make these games].”
One of the hosts brought up Pentiment, a modestly sized title that fellow Xbox studio Obsidian Entertainment developed while creating at least two other large RPGs, Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2. Director Josh Sawyer said he wanted to cleanse his palate and then gradually built up to a small team of only 13 people to develop the critically acclaimed adventure game.
“I’ve made a lot of games that are fantasy, or post-apocalyptic, or they’re first-person shooters, and I just wanted to take a break and wipe my brain with a new experience and a new approach,” said Sawyer.
Howard mentioned that Bethesda Game Studios is making another mobile game, but didn’t go into specifics. Regardless, the focus seems to be on games like The Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfield.