Bethesda’s Pete Hines is Retiring

Pete Hines, Bethesda Softworks’ senior VP and head of publishing, is retiring. In a recent statement, Hines said he 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.” He noted that it wasn’t a decision that came “easily or quickly” but after “an amazing career” and following the successful launch of Starfield, he felt “like the time is right.”

Of course, he clarifies that this isn’t “goodbye by any means,” and that his “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 I’ve gotten to meet and talk to over the last 24 years. Your energy, creativity, and support have 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.”

Bethesda Softworks released its statement on Twitter, noting that Hines’ public-facing 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. We’re thankful for his 24 years of leadership and wish him the best in this next chapter.”

Hines joined the company as senior VP of global marketing and communications in 1999 and became the head of publishing last year. He made numerous appearances, speaking about upcoming releases and recently commenting on Arkane Studios’ Redfall after its disastrous launch, noting that it would become a good game.

Hines’ departure arrives in the wake of Activision Blizzard being officially welcomed to Xbox by Microsoft. The latter announced the $68.7 billion acquisition last year and spent the better part of that time having regulators approving it, ending with the UK Competition and Markets Authority’s approval. Where the company goes next remains to be seen, so stay tuned in the coming months.