Bethesda Insider Reflects on Gaming Industry Evolutions

The game development world is constantly shifting, and life inside major studios can vary wildly. One seasoned artist, who spent 14 years at Bethesda, recently shared his insights on the company’s dramatic evolution and his reasons for taking a different direction in gaming. Nate Purkeypile, a senior artist recognized for his contributions to Skyrim, reflects on how Bethesda has changed into a place he no longer resonates with. He revealed that returning to the studio has never crossed his mind, pointing out how the sprawling production processes of big studios can feel unfulfilling. In his view, such an environment often reduces people to cogs within a massive machine.

As lead artist on Starfield—a behemoth of a project with countless planets and a sprawling credits list—Purkeypile found the work demands relentless. His role required him to attend countless weekly meetings, which felt vastly different from his earlier days at Bethesda. When he joined the team for Skyrim, there were fewer than 100 developers, and this small, cohesive group helped bring games like Fallout 3 and Oblivion to life.

In contrast, Starfield's development involved roughly 500 team members, which, he recalls, diluted the close-knit collaboration and trust he cherished in smaller teams. Wanting to break free from the pressures of large-scale projects, Purkeypile left Bethesda in 2021, embarking on a solo journey by establishing Just Purkey Games. His latest release, a heavy metal horror game titled The Axis Unseen, marks his pivot toward more personal, manageable work.

As for Bethesda’s future, fans are hopeful that a potential Starfield 2 will draw on lessons from previous titles like Oblivion, aiming to deliver an even more extraordinary gaming experience.