franchise management Archives

AppWizard

June 28, 2026

Skyrim’s lead designer reckons releasing Elder Scrolls and Fallout games faster risks ‘disappointing fans’

The Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises from Bethesda have not released new titles for many years, with Fallout 4 reaching 11 years and Skyrim nearing 15 years since their last major releases. Microsoft is working to expedite the development of these games. Bruce Nesmith, lead designer of Skyrim, cautions that prioritizing speed over quality can lead to complications in game development, as large budgets and teams do not guarantee success. He emphasizes the importance of careful resource management and suggests that allowing franchises to rest can prevent fan fatigue. Nesmith estimates that creating a new game in these franchises would take at least five years from inception to completion.

AppWizard

October 23, 2025

Silent Hill producer says Konami announced three games to show it was serious

Motoi Okamoto, the series producer of Silent Hill, announced that Konami is committed to revitalizing the franchise by revealing three new entries in 2022: Silent Hill 2, Silent Hill F, and Silent Hill: Townfall. The last mainline release prior to this was Silent Hill 4 in 2004, with the last spin-off being Downpour in 2012. The remake of Silent Hill 2 is set to release in 2025. Okamoto emphasized the importance of announcing multiple titles to show serious commitment to the series and noted that developing a remake alongside a new title carries risks but is essential for conveying the franchise's future to players. He highlighted that players need to feel a sense of future for an IP to engage with it.

AppWizard

October 18, 2025

Call of Duty vet Schofield “immensely worried” about franchise under Microsoft

Glen Schofield, the former head of Sledgehammer Games, expressed concerns about the future of the Call of Duty franchise under Microsoft's ownership, drawing parallels with other shooter franchises like Gears of War and Halo that have struggled under corporate management. He noted a trend of established titles becoming obscure after being acquired by larger companies and speculated that the Call of Duty bonus system might change to align with Microsoft's framework. Schofield criticized the perceived decline in quality of the Call of Duty series since his departure, specifically mentioning the lukewarm reception of Modern Warfare 3 (2023), which scored 50. He emphasized the importance of a strong creative team and reflected on his experiences during the franchise's peak, noting the collaborative spirit that characterized the development process at that time.