Ex-Bethesda Exec Slams Microsoft’s Gaming Culture as Inauthentic

A Clash of Cultures

I saw Microsoft pay 7.5 Billion dollars to buy Bethesda in 2021.
You need to understand that my twenty four years there let me see everything.
The new office rules felt like a heavy blanket on our old fire.
I never said the name Microsoft out loud but my words were very clear.
I had no power to help my people or the shop we built.
We were a well oiled machine that built games fast before they came along.
I quit because I did not want to watch our good name die.

Delays, Exclusivity, and Legal Battles

I left right when the Xbox team was having a real bad time.
Redfall was a big mess, you could see the cracks in the plan.
They put games on the Sony box after they told you they would keep them for themselves.
I told the court that their logic about Call of Duty was very strange and weird.
The Indiana Jones game was for Xbox first then it showed up on other boxes later.
You need to watch out for changes in game rules every single week now.

A Legacy of Trust and Transparency

We used to speak the truth at Bethesda and people liked us for it.
Microsoft says one thing then they do a different thing.
My old home was real but now it is just part of a big fake thing.
You should trust your gut when a company feels fake to your face.

The Future of Bethesda Under Microsoft

I hear people ask if the fun will stay when the money men take over.
You should watch the next big game very close to see if the soul is gone.
I find it hard to make art when you have to follow boring rules.
I walked out the door to stay honest and give you a fair warning.