Trending Now - Former Bethesda Exec Critiques Microsoft's Handling of Xbox

WHO:

Push Square - Pete Hines, ex-Bethesda boss

Kotaku - Pete Hines, outgoing VP of communications and marketing at Bethesda

WHAT:

Push Square - Hines criticized Microsoft's handling of Bethesda, implying it is not “authentic” or “genuine.”

Kotaku - Hines stated he felt “powerless to do what I think needs to be done to run this place properly” at Bethesda.

Kotaku - Hines announced his retirement in 2023, shortly after the release of Starfield.

Push Square - Microsoft acquired Bethesda for $7.5 billion in 2021.

Kotaku - Hines testified during the FTC trial regarding Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

Kotaku - Hines circulated an email questioning why Call of Duty would remain multiplatform while Bethesda's games became exclusive.

WHERE:

Push Square - Bethesda, a video game developer and publisher.

Kotaku - Reference to the FTC trial, location unspecified.

WHEN:

Push Square - Hines worked at Bethesda for 24 years before leaving in 2023.

Push Square - Starfield was released in 2023.

Kotaku - Starfield was originally scheduled for release on November 11th, 2022.

Kotaku - Hines gave his notice but stayed longer due to delays in Starfield's release.

WHY:

Push Square - Hines felt he could not protect Bethesda and saw it being “damaged and broken apart.”

Kotaku - Hines believed the new ownership by Microsoft was a bad fit for Bethesda.

HOW:

Push Square - Hines expressed his concerns about the management and direction of Bethesda under Microsoft in an interview with journalist Kirk McKeand.

(UPDATED April 11, 2026 05:25 UTC)

Pete Hines, the outgoing VP of communications and marketing at Bethesda, has criticized Microsoft's management of the company, suggesting it lacks authenticity and expressing feelings of powerlessness in running the organization properly. Hines, who worked at Bethesda for 24 years before announcing his retirement in 2023, voiced concerns about the direction of the company under Microsoft’s ownership, which he believes is a poor fit for Bethesda. In an interview, he shared his frustrations about the management changes and the impact they have had on the company, particularly after Microsoft acquired Bethesda for $7.5 billion in 2021.