Bethesda’s first full-time QA tester got the job by being an extremely chill hang
Bethesda Game Studios marked its 40th anniversary this week with the full name reveal of The Elder Scrolls 6: Sentinel. To commemorate the milestone, the studio launched a 40th anniversary website featuring stories and memories from current and former staff members.
One standout anecdote came from Alan Nanes, currently a design director at Bethesda, who was originally hired as one of the studio’s first full-time quality assurance testers. According to Nanes, he secured the position through personal connections and interpersonal skills rather than formal credentials. During Morrowind’s development, Nanes was close friends with multiple developers across different departments at Bethesda. His pleasant demeanor and ability to be good company helped him transition into a full-time QA role during an era when such dedicated testing positions were relatively uncommon in the industry.
Nanes’ career progression from QA tester to design director reflects Bethesda’s approach to internal career development and workplace culture. The studio’s decision to highlight this story in its anniversary retrospective underscores how personal relationships and cultural fit played a role in building its team. The anecdote provides insight into the studio’s informal hiring practices and collaborative environment during its earlier years.