Bethesda’s Pete Hines Talks About Their Future With Nintendo Switch
It’s difficult to deny how successful the Nintendo Switch has become in the year since its launch. Much of the enthusiasm is due to the surprising games that are hitting the console, such as the traditionally Sony-centric Crash Bandicoot, and the hair-pulling brutality of Dark Souls. One of the more notable third-party publishers for the console is Bethesda Softworks, who ported several of their most prominent titles to the hybrid platform. Recently during PAX East proceedings, Bethesda’s Pete Hines revealed the how the company will approach Nintendo Switch games in the future.
Speaking with DualShockers, Hines spoke about whether more Bethesda titles were in the works, and what would compel a Switch port from them in the first place. He revealed that, as with any project they pursue, the conditions would need to be right and demand would need to be there.
It’ll depend on whether or not we think the game is a good fit for the platform technically and whether we think it’s something that audience wants on Switch. In that way, it’s literally no different than any other platform that we look at or any other game that we do. Hopefully, it’ll be a mix of both. If there’s stuff that folks want us to release on Switch and it’s a good fit and it works – great. If it’s new stuff going forward that we think is a good fit and will work on Switch, then we’ll do that too.”
With previously released favorites like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, DOOM, and the upcoming Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus joining the Switch, the question was asked whether future ports could ever arrive on launch day alongside the other platforms. While acknowledging this as an ideal scenario, Pete Hines stated that the extra development time required for Switch could make it a challenge.
That’s always our preference but in the case of Skyrim and DOOM, well, that wasn’t possible. In the case of Wolfenstein II, we needed the extra time and there was no way we were going to hold the other platforms to wait for Switch. From my perspective, any time we can bring it out on the Switch at the exact same time as the other platforms for new releases, I don’t know why we wouldn’t.”
Either way, Bethesda seems completely willing to embrace the unique hardware of the Switch as long as fans still continue to appreciate the result. In addition to Nintendo’s portable console, the developer has been making strides to feature on VR as well, with immersive versions of DOOM, Fallout 4, and Skyrim all hitting headsets within the past year.
What do you think? Are you satisfied with what Pete Hines had to say about the Switch, or is it a shame we probably won’t get a Bethesda game on the Nintendo console until long after launch? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day! For more in the works from Bethesda, check out these next few links:
Eric Hall2712 Posts
Phone-browsing Wikipedia in one hand and clutching his trusty controller in the other, the legendary Eric Hall spreads his wealth of knowledge as a writer for Don't Feed the Gamers. Be sure to catch his biweekly "Throwback Thursday" segment for a nostalgic look at trivia from the past.
