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Bethesda’s Pete Hines is retiring, ending his 24-year tenure at theStarfieldpublisher. The now-former Head of Publishing announced his retirement on his private profile on X (formerly Twitter), saying his time at Bethesda Softworks had “come to an end.”
The publisher posted at the same time, announcing its executive’s departure, and thanking him for his contributions. Since starting his career at Bethesda in 1999, Hines has become one of the most well-known people in the company and the face ofFallout. His retirement comes weeks after the successful launch ofStarfieldand just days after Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Pete Hines Announces His Retirement from Bethesda
In a post published on X on October 16, Pete Hines revealed he will be leaving Bethesda Softworks after almost 25 years at the company.
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.— Pete Hines
Hines joined Bethesda in 1999 as Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Communications and was made Head of Publishing in October last year. The executive most known for his involvement inFalloutandThe Elder Scrollsstated the decision to retire wasn’t one he had come to “easily or quickly.”However, after the successful launch ofStarfield,it felt “like the time [was] right.”
pic.twitter.com/dhZEmRbzjz
— Pete Hines (@DCDeacon)July 21, 2025
Hines’ announcement comes just over a month after the release of the space epicStarfield, the company’s first new IP in almost three decades, and a game the exec reportedly putmore than 150 hoursinto.
He retires a mere few days after Bethesda’s parent company Microsoft finalized its $69-billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard – a deal almost two years in the making.
Hines said in his statement that “this [was] certainly not a goodbye by any means,” and that he would “never stop being part of this incredible community.” He ended his memo by thanking the fans and expressing his appreciation, pride, and love for his colleagues and what they have created together.
An Outpour of Love and Well Wishes
In a statement by Bethesdapublished on Xat the same time as Hines’ post, the company confirmed his decision and thanked him for his contributions during his time at the publisher.
The publisher stated that Hines’ public presence had only been a “small part of his role” at the company, where he had nurtured “authenticity, integrity, and passion”. It went on to praise his contributions as “integral” in helping Bethesda and its studios become the “world-class organization it is today.” The company ended its note by wishing him all the best for his next chapter in life.
His vision helped push us forward, and his work inspired us. […] We’ll miss you, Pete!— Bethesda
Responding to Hines’ post, the publisher later posted a fake doctor’s note, prescribing him “lots of gaming” and “devoting care and affection to foster pups” (Hines is known for fostering and rehoming dogs), “and of course… more games!”
The former exec had previously posted such doctor’snotes on his profilefor gamers to excuse their absence from work or school due to gaming commitments. Bethesda poked fun at this to send him off into his retirement with humorous well wishes.
Not just his now-former employee, but also industry members and fans, poured out their love and support for Hines, thanking him for everything he has done at the company and wishing him all the best for his future. Over the years, Hines has become a familiar and well-liked person in the community.
He has played an integral role in the company and has gone through major milestones with the publisher, including Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda parent ZeniMax Media in 2021.
He was involved in some of the publisher’s biggest releases over the last two decades, includingThe Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Fallout 3, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,andDishonored. This year, he worked on the release ofRedfall, with his career culminating in the successful launch ofStarfieldearly last month.
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Lisa Kamlot
Articles Published :101
Lisa is a passionate gaming writer with an insatiable appetite for all things gaming. When she’s not diving into virtual worlds, she’s riding waves as a dedicated surfer. She’s always on a quest for adventure – both in the digital realm and IRL.
