“We have ideas that we want to get out there”: Bethesda’s Todd Howard says Xbox’s Starfield and Fallout 76 were “creatively different” by design, for better or worse
Bethesda game director Todd Howard has explained that both Starfield and Fallout 76 were intentionally designed as creative departures from the studio’s traditional open-world RPG formula.
The 2018 multiplayer title Fallout 76 and the 2023 Xbox exclusive Starfield represented Bethesda’s deliberate attempt to experiment with new ideas and move away from its established conventions. According to Howard, the studio wanted to “get out there” with concepts that differed significantly from their standard large, content-dense single-player experiences that have defined franchises like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout.
Both games marked notable shifts in the developer’s approach. Fallout 76 introduced a live-service multiplayer component to the Fallout franchise, fundamentally changing how players would experience the post-apocalyptic world. Meanwhile, Starfield positioned itself as an ambitious new IP rather than an established series continuation, representing Bethesda’s first major new franchise in decades.
Howard’s comments suggest these creative risks were calculated decisions rather than unplanned deviations, with the studio prioritizing innovation and exploration of new gameplay directions. While the reception to these experimental titles has been mixed, Bethesda’s willingness to venture beyond its proven formula demonstrates the studio’s commitment to creative growth and experimentation despite mixed player reception.