Ex-Bethesda Boss Details His One Regret With Prey

by

Bethesda, once renowned as one of the leading names in the gaming industry due to acclaimed series such as The Elder Scrolls, Dishonored, and Fallout, which captivated players with their promise of a limitless future in gaming, now finds its more recent releases receiving mixed responses. Titles like Starfield have faced criticism after falling short of the high expectations set for them.

In a conversation with DBLTAP, Pete Hines, who previously worked as the marketing and communications head at Bethesda, shared that the company has undergone significant changes and is not the same as it once was. He also mentioned his regrets regarding the 2017 game “Prey,” which received positive reviews upon its release. Hines expressed his disappointment with the title’s name, stating it drew too much attention away from the game itself. He waged a fierce internal battle against the decision but ultimately lost the argument.

Why Pete Hines Regrets That Prey Used That Name

During the interview, Hines expressed his frustration following the defeat in naming negotiations, which he believed negatively impacted the conversation surrounding the game. “Believe me, I could go on and on about that,” Hines stated. “I ruffled some feathers internally due to my strong opposition against using that name. As a leader, I was at the forefront, but there were many team members – from branding, public relations, and community management – who shared my sentiment. We felt weighed down by a name that required more explanations about why it’s called Prey rather than discussions about the game itself.

I’m sorry I didn’t win that contest, but I gave it my best shot. My underlying message was that instead of debating the rules of the game or its name, we should focus on what really matters and channel our energy and enthusiasm into constructive outcomes.

Many gamers wondered why the game was named “Prey,” thinking the title seemed contrived due to Zenimax Media’s previous ownership of the series’ intellectual property while 3D Realms encountered difficulties in developing “Prey 2.” This idea gained some traction when Prey’s director, Raphaël Colantonio, mentioned on a podcast that Bethesda had compelled Arkane to adopt the title. “Our game,” said Colantonio, “was unrelated to Prey. It was somewhat disheartening for the artistic/creative side when you’re told ‘Your game will be called Prey.’ I felt it wasn’t suitable.”

More recently, clandestine gameplay snippets from the abandoned sequel to Prey titled Prey 2 surfaced online. These segments offered a glimpse of an expansive open-world environment that players did not encounter in the 2017 reboot of Prey, which was relatively compact and incorporated fast travel loading screens to break up the action. Regrettably, these inconvenient load times have become a recurring feature in Bethesda’s projects, and I fervently hope they will rectify this shortcoming when The Elder Scrolls 6 debuts.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my thoughts on the naming of the 2017 remake as “Prey.” Frankly, I wonder if it truly deserves the title, given the criticism it received and considering the shutdown of Arkane Austin, the original creators.

In this day and age, where Bethesda seems to be facing challenges, I ponder whether a follow-up game would retain the same name, “Prey 2.” To me, such a sequel now appears highly unlikely.

However, if by some chance a new Prey game does materialize, I can’t help but feel it might carry a different title to distinguish itself from its predecessors. But that’s just my take as an enthusiast!

https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/best-bethesda-games-bgs-ever/embed/#

Read More

2025-09-05 22:42