Bethesda’s head of publishing, Pete Hines, is leaving after 24 years

Bethesda’s head of publishing, Pete Hines, is leaving the company after nearly 25 years of employment, he’s announced.

Hines, who is one of the most recognisable figures at the Microsoft-owned Elder Scrolls and Fallout publisher, announced the news on his social media channels on Monday.

“After 24 years, I have decided my time at Bethesda Softworks has come to an end,” he wrote. “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.

“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.”

He added: “This is certainly not goodbye by any means. My love of Bethesda and its people has never wavered, and I will never stop being part of this incredible community we have grown.

“Thank you to the hundreds and thousands of fans l’ve gotten to meet and talk to over the last 24 years. Your energy, creativity, and support has been such a big part of my journey. I look forward to experiencing the next part of the adventure alongside you.

“Working with the amazing people, teams, and studios at Bethesda has been the greatest experience of my life. I’m incredibly proud of everything we have done together, and I’m genuinely excited to see the amazing things they will create next.”

In its own statement, Bethesda praised Hines for the significant role he has played in the company’s journey.

“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,” it said.

“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.

“We’re thankful for his 24 years of leadership and wish him the best in this next chapter. We’ll miss you, Pete!”

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Hines is departing Bethesda shortly after the release of Starfield, which is its first game since Microsoft acquired its parent company ZeniMax Media in 2021.

Starfield was released on September 6, but players who pre-ordered its Premium Edition or Constellation Edition were able to start playing five days earlier.

On September 19, its publisher claimed the sci-fi RPG had reached 10 million players, making it “the biggest launch in Bethesda history”.