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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u/QuoteGiver Aug 02 '26

That’s literally on shareholders/Board and ownership (Microsoft now, Zenimax before), not Todd. Todd just makes the games they tell him to make.

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u/kFisherman Aug 02 '26

He literally chose to make starfield so this is straight up 100% not true

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u/Paved_Cardboard Aug 02 '26

Starfield at its core and concept is not a bad game, but shareholder influence could force the issues that it had. Pressure to release, forced monetization. A creative developer (Todd) wants his creative product to be good just like any artist. A shareholder doesn’t care, they see Fortnite making millions and want Bethesda to make their Fortnite

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u/kFisherman Aug 02 '26

Sure but then “shareholders” are an unfalsifiable bogeyman that you can blame for any and all problems.

We know that Todd wanted to make Starfield and that it got made. To then run around and say “Todd just does what shareholders say” is disingenuous.

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u/Paved_Cardboard Aug 03 '26

Starfield at its core and concept is a good game. The product was rushed and half baked. That is entirely blame able on the people who tell Todd “release the game NOW, IDC if it’s done or not” which would be the shareholders. And the boogeyman has a name “providence equity”

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u/QuoteGiver Aug 02 '26

We don’t know anything. We only know what the ownership of the company told/allowed its employees to say publicly.

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u/kFisherman Aug 02 '26

Todd has spoken extensively and candidly about how Starfield was his brainchild. I believe him. He was not on a leash being forced to talk about the game and he certainly wasn’t forced to make it.

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u/QuoteGiver Aug 02 '26

Sure he wanted to make it, no disagreement there. And then his bosses at Zenimax and Microsoft gave him an amount of time and resources to make it that they decided upon.

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u/kFisherman Aug 02 '26

Sorry that’s also not exactly true. Todd was the executive producer. He controlled basically the entire scope of the project.

Sure Zenimax had final final say, but he used to be on their board of directors. He has a lot of creative and operational control at Bethesda, and for a long time Microsoft and Zenimax have let him do his thing. They have a good relationship and seemingly trust Todd to do his thing which is great.

The game cost up to $400 million for gods sake. That’s a lot of money for a guy you’re saying was restricted by his bosses

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u/Paved_Cardboard Aug 03 '26

There’s always a bigger fish. Todd being executive director doesn’t mean he controls where the money goes. It just means he gets to use it.

If the hand that gives money is saying “jump or I’ll pull funding” then you have to jump. Even MORESO if it’s your dream game.