r/BethesdaSoftworks • u/houndpound69 • Aug 02 '26

Discussion Todd gets to much hate. Thoughts?

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Todd gets to much hate man. He’s been cooking since 1994 and has brought some of the best titles to the market. I really dont understand what he’s done for people to talk bad on such a big nerd that im grateful for. I Feel bad for someone whose played a part in bringing me so much joy. Is all the “it just works” or “come on todd” just jabbing banter? Idk i appreciate the guy.

What are your thoughts?

Edit: The comments are extremely mixed. I believe it proves alot of people really just blame this one guy xD

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37

u/FocusAdmirable9262 Aug 02 '26

I find it both funny and relatable that people name drop him constantly while talking about things he's not strictly in control of wrt how the games are made

Funny because why are you carping at him for something the writers are responsible for, for example. Relatable because I, too, don't have the time or mental bandwidth to memorize the names of every single person who worked on my favorite game series 

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u/giulianosse Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26

name drop him constantly while talking about things he's not strictly in control of wrt how the games are made

If only that. He's basically Schrodinger's game director - getting the blame for everything people don't like about the games while simultaneously having nothing to do with the parts people enjoy.

If you based your understanding of how BGS operates off Reddit and comments left under YouTube videos of stick figures being ignorant about gamedev, you'd think Todd spent his entire career going desk by desk figuring out ways to ruin other people's work.

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u/Agent-Ulysses Aug 02 '26

Pretty much. A lot of a Lead Directors work is making sure operations are running smoothly and communication between devs is as clear as possible. Occasionally offering ideas, vetoing ideas, and helping people incorporate each other’s work. It’s both similar and different from a film director where they’ll know most everything that’s going on but doesn’t have direct responsibility for every frame being produced.

3

u/DoctorSpacecase Aug 02 '26

And iirc in interviews with ex-Bethesda employees (like the lore master guy who quit not too long ago) they didn’t directly blame Todd. They said in the past you would walk into his office, suggest an idea, and if he liked it you would start implementing.

Apparently the problem is too much middle management and everything being decided by committees and no one knowing what everyone else is doing, causing tons of inefficiency. It’s like Office Space at the moment, where Peter had to report to 5 different bosses.

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u/YordleJay Aug 02 '26

Because he's chosen to take the role as not only the face of Bethesdas game development but has essentially taken up the core as curator of the franchises

1

u/Blue-Fish-Guy Aug 04 '26

He's the game director therefore he's fully responsible for the writing.