Bethesda: No plans for Wii, iPhone, social

By Tom Bramwell Published 30 July, 2010

Fallout 3 developer staying where it is.

The internal Bethesda Softworks development team has no plans to develop for Nintendo systems because it feels its games are graphically and thematically better suited to other formats.

That's according to executive producer Todd Howard, who told IndustryGamers, "The stuff we're doing is a better fit on the other platforms. You can never say never, but I think for the kind of games that we like to play and make, it fits the other platforms."

Howard acknowledged that this was more down to a mismatch of audiences than any kind of prejudice.

"Even if there's going to be some bigger, more mature games on it, the system, for better or worse, has been moved to this demographic [of casual gaming]," he said.

"If we had an idea that we thought would really take advantage of that platform, we would do something for it. Usually, we're thinking more in terms of graphically doing things that the other systems do. That's what we get excited about."

Nor is Bethesda considering iPhone or social game development for the time being, although in each case for different reasons.

"Once the id thing came about [Bethesda owner ZeniMax acquired id Software in 2009], they were doing enough mobile stuff that I kind of felt, 'OK, they're doing some really good stuff right now; let's see how that market goes before I start putting my own time or other people's time into something that, at the end of the day, might be a distraction from the bigger game that we need to be making.'" Howard explained when asked about iPhone.

"At the end of the day, [it] might be a distraction from the bigger game that we need to be making. For now, it's definitely on the back burner."

As for social platforms like Facebook and the success of games like Farmville... "I've got to be honest, I don't get it," said Howard. "I look at it and try to understand but for now I've just decided to ignore it."

Bethesda Softworks is currently working on an unannounced project that we assume everyone hopes is a new Elder Scrolls game...

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (25) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Wyrm #1 2 years ago

    Fools! Make a Pipboy app for iPhone, connect it to F3 or New Vegas through wifi, experience profit.

  • SBfistfun #2 2 years ago

    I second this ^

  • madjim #3 2 years ago

    As for social platforms like Facebook and the success of games like Farmville... "I've got to be honest, I don't get it," said Howard. "I look at it and try to understand but for now I've just decided to ignore it."


    Best statement I've read for a long time.

  • originaljohn #4 2 years ago

    Prime example of a gamer who makes games.

  • TheApologist #5 2 years ago

    As someone who likes Elder Scrolls and F3 this makes me feel good about their upcoming games. But if I was an investor, I wonder how I'd feel about them 'ignoring' rapidly expanding markets like that?

  • andywilkie35 #6 2 years ago

    Well said, I'd fookin' hate it if the next Elder Scrolls was compromised by the need to incorporate MOAR WAGGLEZ

  • coomber #7 2 years ago

    Good. Let the iPhone and Facebook community rot in Hell as they and their Farmville shovelware deserve.

  • geeza2020 #8 2 years ago

    Thank fuck there are still people out there like this, commited to making decent games, rather than casual shovelware for cash.

  • ISmoke #9 2 years ago

    I like this guy. He just said it how it was.

    1 in my meaningless book of reputation

  • lordofthedunce #10 2 years ago

    Good. Just because a developer makes games it doesn't mean they have to cover all formats/styles etc. The industry is much broader than that.

  • ZeroAX #11 2 years ago

    yup don't broaden your horizons. excellent business logic right there.

    not saying they should make a mini game fallout, but they could make a mainstream rpg with a mainstream license. They should try to get more people into RPGs.
    Edited by 1 at 30/07/10 @ 11:25

  • Xardan #12 2 years ago

    I'm glad to see some developers still have standards.

  • lordofthedunce #13 2 years ago

    @ZeroAX

    Perhaps the devs are happier working on something they are passionate about.


  • BuddyChrist #14 2 years ago

    Damn, fallout wii would be great: jacking up on psycho, bashing off a super mutant, cleaning radioactive waste off yourself... What other lame things does the wiimote do...?..... Ride a Brahmin maybe...

    Good call, wii a no go.

    The pipboy on iPhone would rule though. Vaultec app. All the facts, a few fun gimic tools like a Geiger counter, more info on the other vaults, a survival guide a la fallout 2, I'd buy that. The fallout world is awesome

  • CaptainKid #15 2 years ago

    "As for social platforms like Facebook and the success of games like Farmville... "I've got to be honest, I don't get it," said Howard. "I look at it and try to understand but for now I've just decided to ignore it."

    Haha, nice answer. I think I do get it. It's about easy acces and being able to compete with your facebook "friends".

  • Murton #16 2 years ago

    "They should try to get more people into RPGs."

    They'd have to start making them again first. Since Howard took over at the top they've seriously watered down their RPG formula. I'll agree that Arena and Daggerfall were overly complex, but Oblivion and Fallout were overly simple, Morrowind however was perfect and I'd like to see them return to that standard.

    As for what platforms Bethesda "support" their support to date has been rather piecemeal on the PS3, something that definitely needs improving with future titles. A repeat of the level of support shown for Fallout 3 will likely not be tolerated by what's left of their PS3 fanbase

  • darc #17 2 years ago

    Yeah, I still love everything Bethesda does, but Morrowwind was a high point for them. If they could put the polish of Oblivion on a game as deep as Morrowwind - even a remake - that would be something.

  • Ryze #18 2 years ago

    Kudos.

  • Mnia786 #19 2 years ago

    How about they patch up on their PS3 skills? Oblivion on PS3 was awesome but Fallout 3 was so graphically inferior to the other 2 version,s its a bit dismaying from a top dev. Sort it out lads.

  • Murton #20 2 years ago

    "Oblivion on PS3 was awesome"

    Largely because Bethesda didn't make it. They sub-contracted it to 4J Studios. Shame they didn't do the same for Failout 3. I'd happily have waited 6 months to get a game that works than pay full price for alpha level code.

  • hiddenranbir #21 2 years ago

    Could modding community make an Android app that connects to F3 or the new coming NV?

  • metroid455 #22 2 years ago

    absolutely spot on!! cant wait for elder scrolls V

  • Mnia786 #23 2 years ago

    @Murton - true that. Obviously they will have had a hand in it but they should be better themselves if they want to survive in the market as it is today.

  • Rens11 #24 2 years ago

    Sounds like a decent honest chap if only all games developers were as decent

  • MrFooknuts #25 2 years ago

    There is already a Morrowind like game coming out for the iPhone, it's called Aralon Sword and Shadow , it even has the a former Morrowind modeller working on the models, it looks great, will have well over 30 hrs gameplay, day/night cycles, guilds, sidemissions, robbery and you can murder anyone in the game and fight it out with the guards, just like Morrowind, so who needs Bethesda? And they dumbed down Oblivion from Morrowind to be console friendly, so there was PC gamers saying the same thing as you lot are about iPhone.