Bethesda Archives

AppWizard

November 23, 2025

We owe Skyrim’s beloved Stealth Archer to one of the designers of an all-time classic PC stealth game, who wrote Todd Howard ‘a big document of stealth in 20 different games’

Stealth mechanics in role-playing games have been popular among players for decades, with games like Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Cyberpunk offering immersive experiences. The Stealth Archer playstyle in Skyrim has gained a significant following, leading to numerous guides and discussions online. Emil Pagliarulo, Bethesda's design director, has a background in stealth games, having started his career at Looking Glass Studios, known for titles like Thief. He conducted an analysis of stealth mechanics in 20 different games upon joining Bethesda. Oblivion, released in 2006, introduced important stealth mechanics such as consistent sound and line-of-sight, enhancing the stealth experience compared to previous games. Pagliarulo distinguishes between Thief, which focuses solely on stealth simulation, and Bethesda's games, which offer a broader range of gameplay systems. He emphasizes the freedom players have to shape their characters' identities through stealth gameplay, expressing pride in the evolution of stealth mechanics at Bethesda.

AppWizard

November 15, 2025

Before The Witcher 3 launched, CD Projekt was terrified that Batman: Arkham Knight would flatten it with its Batmobile: ‘They’re just gonna roll over us’

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was released in 2015 by CD Projekt, which faced uncertainty due to competition from Rocksteady Studios' Batman: Arkham Knight, set to launch around the same time. CD Projekt was concerned that Arkham Knight's popularity could overshadow their game, especially since Warner Bros was both the distributor and publisher for Arkham Knight. The release of Arkham Knight was ultimately delayed from May to June 23, alleviating some of CD Projekt's concerns about retail competition. A decade later, The Witcher 3 is celebrated as one of the finest RPGs ever made.

AppWizard

November 13, 2025

Forget Fallout 4’s Anniversary Edition — get these deals instead

The 10-year anniversary of Fallout 4 was marked by the release of the Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition, which includes the base game, all six expansions, and 150 community-created items from the Creation Club. The Anniversary Edition is priced at .99, with an upgrade option available for existing players at .99. Alternatives for PC players include the Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition for .19 and the Fallout 4 Creations Bundle for .79. Fallout 4 is set in a post-apocalyptic Boston, taking place 210 years after a nuclear disaster in 2077, and features settlement-building mechanics. The game has received criticism for its main storyline and speech system, but remains popular, especially after the release of the Fallout television series. Players can also access the base game through Xbox Game Pass, though DLCs and Creation Club items require separate purchases.

AppWizard

November 11, 2025

Fallout 4’s Creations Bundle stumbles from the Vault to Mostly Negative reviews, as players lament the pack ‘does not work’ and ‘made the game buggier’

Bethesda has launched a Creations Bundle for Fallout 4 to commemorate its tenth anniversary, featuring 150 player-created items priced at £17.99. The bundle has received a "Mostly Negative" rating on Steam, with 124 reviews indicating player dissatisfaction with pricing and content, which appears to be a repackaging of previously available items. Players have reported new bugs, severe crashes when exiting the game, and connectivity issues with the Bethesda store. Some users noted that not all advertised creations are included in the bundle, and the newly added Creations menu has been problematic. This situation is reminiscent of the troubled launch of Skyrim: Anniversary Edition, which still holds a Mixed rating on Steam. Additionally, issues from last year's Next Gen upgrade of Fallout 4 have resurfaced, causing further disruption.

AppWizard

November 10, 2025

The wait for the Elder Scrolls 6 has been “too long,” says Bethesda’s Todd Howard, while confirming it’s still ages away

Todd Howard of Bethesda acknowledged in a recent interview that the wait for The Elder Scrolls 6 has been "too long" and confirmed that the game is actively being developed, with a playable version already existing and undergoing playtests. He emphasized that The Elder Scrolls 6 is a priority for the studio, describing it as "an everyday thing" and mentioned the studio's philosophy of allowing significant gaps between Elder Scrolls releases to maintain the franchise's integrity. Bethesda's last major release, Starfield, received mixed reactions, with a recent review rating it 7/10.

AppWizard

November 10, 2025

Todd Howard says Fallout 4 “did not resonate” in one key way, but Bethesda has “hundreds” working on the series right now

The Fallout franchise has seen significant highs and lows over the past two decades, with critical acclaim for Fallout 3 and New Vegas, a decline with Fallout 4, and a troubled launch for Fallout 76, which has since improved. Bethesda's executive producer Todd Howard stated that "hundreds" of staff members are currently working on the Fallout series, indicating development beyond Fallout 76. There are ongoing enhancements to Fallout 76, and there are discussions about a potential sequel to Fallout 4 or a remake of a classic title. Howard acknowledged past criticisms of Fallout 4's dialogue system and expressed a desire to learn from past experiences for future projects. The release date for The Elder Scrolls 6 is uncertain, and any new Fallout title is likely further off, but there is hope for a return to successful game development by incorporating player feedback. Fans continue to desire a Fallout game that captures the tone and depth of Fallout: New Vegas.

AppWizard

November 10, 2025

Mick Gordon is asking ‘how heavy can we get it?’ in his first full game soundtrack since Doom Eternal: ‘I’m really exploring the extremes of distortion with this project’

Australian composer Mick Gordon is known for his distinctive future-metal sound in videogame music, particularly for his work on id Software's Wolfenstein and Doom. After parting ways with Bethesda, he has worked on various projects, including the soundtrack for Atomic Heart and recently announced his involvement in the soundtrack for the upcoming cyberpunk game Defect. The game features a sprawling metropolis and an omnipresent surveillance AI, drawing inspiration from the 2011 film Dredd. Gordon aims to integrate his musical style into Defect while experimenting with microtonal sounds and off-tempo beats. He plans to use synthesizers to create an immersive auditory experience that reflects the game's grim cityscapes. Gordon also cited the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie as an unexpected source of inspiration for capturing a nostalgic energy in his work. Players can wishlist Defect on Steam as they await its release.

AppWizard

November 6, 2025

Minecraft Mounts of Mayhem will finally let you give your horse the armor it deserves: a top-tier Netherite suit

Minecraft's Mounts of Mayhem game drop is set to arrive by the year's end, introducing Netherite horse armor as a new feature. This armor can be crafted by upgrading diamond horse armor with a Netherite ingot and an upgrade template. The release of Minecraft snapshot 25w45a for Java Edition and preview version 1.21.130.26 for Bedrock marks the final testing opportunity for Mounts of Mayhem. Additionally, Minecraft has launched a Dragon Ball Z fighting game with various modes and voxelized characters.

AppWizard

November 6, 2025

Veteran game developer Scott Miller explains why it took 3D Realms so long to get PC gaming’s most ambitious but ultimately flawed sci-fi FPS game over the line: ‘Let’s just put all our eggs into the Duke Nukem basket’

In 2006, the sci-fi first-person shooter Prey was released after an 11-year development cycle but has since faded from prominence. The game featured a Native American protagonist abducted by aliens and included innovative gameplay mechanics such as portals and anti-gravity walkways. Initially developed by a team that showcased a demo at E3 in 1998, the project faced numerous challenges, including engine issues and funding problems, leading to its temporary halt. The publisher GT Interactive invested 0,000 into the game, but it was later revived with the help of Gathering of Developers and Human Head Studios. Despite its creative elements, the game was released under constraints imposed by Take-Two Interactive, which limited its potential. The original portal gun concept from the 1998 demo was not included in the final product. As of 2025, Prey is not available on digital storefronts due to rights complications after being acquired by ZeniMax Media in 2009, making access difficult for new players.

AppWizard

November 5, 2025

Grab Oblivion Remastered at its lowest price yet before this deal is gone for good

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is a remaster of the original 2006 game, featuring enhanced visuals and gameplay refinements, developed by Virtuos under Bethesda Game Studios' supervision using Unreal Engine 5. It is currently available at a price of .74, reflecting a 33% discount. Players take on the role of the Hero of Kvatch, with a main storyline that leads into a vast open world filled with quests and characters. The remaster appeals to both long-time fans and newcomers. Modding is encouraged to enhance gameplay, and players are advised to prioritize acquiring the best weapons in the game.