Has Todd Howard become the scapegoat for Bethesda's troubles?
What the comments really reveal about Todd Howard's share of the blame, numbers included.
The context
On June 10, 2018, at Bethesda's E3 conference, Todd Howard unveiled The Elder Scrolls VI with a brief teaser, confirming it had entered pre-production and would follow Fallout 76 (2018) and Starfield, then slated for 2023.
On September 21, 2020, Microsoft announced it would acquire ZeniMax Media, Bethesda's parent company, for $7.5 billion; the deal closed in March 2021, bringing Bethesda Game Studios under Xbox while Todd Howard remained the studio's creative lead.
Starfield, Bethesda's first new franchise in 25 years, launched on September 6, 2023 as an Xbox/PC exclusive; Howard said The Elder Scrolls VI moved into full production after that release.
In July 2026, Xbox-wide layoffs cut more than 50 Bethesda Game Studios staff, including senior developers; employees told IGN they feared a "substantial and cascading effect" on The Elder Scrolls VI's development.
Sources: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and its game publisher Bethesda Softworks · The Elder Scrolls VI - Wikipedia · 'Starfield': Todd Howard discusses Bethesda's new space-based RPG - Washington Post · The Elder Scrolls 6 will be hurt and potentially delayed by Xbox layoffs, Bethesda devs expect - GamesRadar+
Factual background compiled from public sources — the debate analysis below relies exclusively on the comments.
How we got here
as told by the commentsThe Elder Scrolls VI teaser drops, cementing Todd Howard as the studio's public face — the man who will be held accountable for years to come.
A lengthy Todd Howard interview (Lex Fridman) revives the debate: some praise his genuine passion, others see a well-rehearsed PR performance.
Following Starfield's underwhelming launch, comments start singling out Todd personally for years supposedly diverted away from Elder Scrolls VI.
A wave of criticism lumps Todd Howard together with writer Emil Pagliarulo, diluting Todd's individual responsibility into a broader critique of the creative team.
Media coverage around Bethesda's troubles intensifies; some commentators push back, noting that key decisions also come from Microsoft and Zenimax.
The Elder Scrolls VI
~18% of the discussion on this gameOn The Elder Scrolls VI, the question goes beyond simple development delays: commentators debate whether Todd Howard should personally answer for Bethesda's choices, or whether he's absorbing anger born from Starfield and Fallout 76. The topic makes up roughly 18% of discussion around the teaser video since 2018.
Todd bears real responsibility 55 %
Todd as a convenient scapegoat 45 %
Frequently asked questions
- Why do fans blame Todd Howard so much for Elder Scrolls VI's delays?
- Because he's been the studio's public face for decades: commentators naturally associate him with strategic choices, like prioritizing Starfield and Fallout 76 while the Elder Scrolls sequel waited.
- Is Todd Howard really responsible for Bethesda's problems, or is it Microsoft/Zenimax's fault?
- Comments are split: some hold him directly responsible for creative decisions, while others believe the successive acquisitions by Zenimax and then Microsoft mainly explain the observed missteps.
- Who else gets named in the debate over responsibility at Bethesda?
- Writer Emil Pagliarulo is frequently named alongside Todd Howard, with some commentators arguing his continued presence explains the perceived drop in the studio's storytelling quality.
- Has perception of Todd Howard changed after Starfield?
- Yes: comments turn noticeably more critical after Starfield's underwhelming launch, a shift that later fuels the scapegoat question around Elder Scrolls VI.