Bethesda Game Studios leader Todd Howard recently addressed fan anticipation surrounding The Elder Scrolls VI and Fallout 5, while also offering insight into the company’s approach to artificial intelligence. howard’s comments came during a preview event for the upcoming second season of Amazon’s Fallout series,which premieres December 17th,and reflect a broader industry conversation about growth timelines and emerging technologies. The studio head publicly acknowledged the likelihood of Grand Theft auto VI releasing before Bethesda’s next major titles, and clarified the role AI currently plays-and will play-in their game development process.
Bethesda’s Todd Howard Discusses AI and Game Development Timelines
Bethesda Game Studios’ creative director, Todd Howard, recently weighed in on the hotly anticipated release schedules for both The Elder Scrolls VI and Fallout 5, while also sharing his perspective on the role of artificial intelligence in game development. The conversation took place at a preview event for the second season of Amazon’s Fallout television series, set to premiere on Prime Video December 17th.
When asked about the potential order of releases – specifically whether Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto VI might launch before Bethesda’s next major titles – Howard indicated that Grand Theft Auto VI is likely to arrive first. He then expressed considerable respect for Rockstar’s work, stating, “I’m rooting for Grand Theft Auto VI to come out before The Elder Scrolls VI and Fallout 5. Rockstar does incredible work. I know people who work at Rockstar, and I think they’re the best at bringing virtual worlds to life. It’s a world that would continue to exist even if you weren’t there.”
Currently, Fallout 5 remains in the pre-production phase, making a near-term release unlikely. Bethesda is prioritizing the completion of The Elder Scrolls VI, a project Howard himself acknowledged is still some time away. He reiterated his desire to release the game when it’s fully ready, but conceded that a launch before November 19th – the new release date for Grand Theft Auto VI – is “practically zero.”
Turning to the topic of AI, Howard clarified that Bethesda isn’t currently using the technology to generate content. However, he views AI as a valuable tool within the evolving landscape of game development practices and standards. “I think of it as a tool,” Howard explained. “The creative intent still comes from the human artist. But I think it’s a tool we can use to iterate on things faster. We’re constantly evolving the tools we use to build worlds or check things. If we went back 10 years, we wouldn’t want the version of Photoshop we had then.”
Howard emphasized the importance of preserving artistry and human intention in their games, adding, “That’s our view on it. But we want to preserve the artistry. It’s the human intent that makes our work special.” This perspective comes as the gaming industry increasingly explores the potential of AI to streamline development processes.
Interestingly, Howard likened the choice of sticking with established workflows to choosing an older version of Photoshop, a reference to a long-standing debate among artists who have often preferred older, more stable versions of the software following Adobe’s shift to a subscription-based model in 2013. This decision was widely criticized, leading many users to remain with the reliable Photoshop CS6.
Sources: WCCFTech, PCGamer, Eurogamer
