Todd Howard, the director of Bethesda Game Studios, is the man who is responsible for giving us iconic franchises like the Elder Scrolls and Fallout. But what’s the first game he laid his hands on after joining Bethesda? Well, that would be Terminator: Future Shock. Most of you have probably never heard about this game, and according to Howard, that’s likely because of Quake.
Todd Howard’s Terminator: First Shock Suffered Because of Quake
A few years ago, The Guardian got an opportunity to sit down with Todd Howard and talk about his passion, gaming. The Bethesda director opened up about the development philosophy behind the studio’s games and where he believes the industry is heading in the next 5-10 years.
When asked about his first project, which he worked on at Bethesda, Howard stated that it was Terminator: Future Shock. This was a first-person shooter based on the iconic Terminator Franchise. It was set in a post-apocalyptic world where gamers had to battle robotic enemies with a bunch of grenades and guns. Unfortunately, Howard believes it didn’t receive the attention it deserved, thanks to the release of Quake right after it.
It’s an underrated game that not a lot of people played. I think Quake came out right afterwards, that might have had something to do with it, and understandably so
Quake was id Software’s follow-up to the success of Doom in the 90s. It was yet another first-person shooter that was built upon Doom‘s legacy and took the entire gaming world by storm. Not only did it revolutionize 3D rendering in FPS games, but it also set new standards that can influence your favorite games today. Heck, it was the game that launched the idea of Esports and online gaming.
This was the level of competition Terminator: Future Shock faced, even though it debuted a year earlier in 1995. While it is far from a bad game, and Quake wasn’t necessarily better, Howard believes that Quake‘s success simply overshadowed his first project. Clearly, Future Shock suffered from bad timing, as it had been released at a different time, it might’ve received the recognition it deserved.
Which Game Is Todd Howard Currently Working On?
It’s fair to say that the last couple of years haven’t proven to be the best for Bethesda. Howard’s dream project, Starfield, didn’t generate the hype he’d hoped for, which only further disappointed fans who lost their faith in Bethesda after the release of Fallout 76.
However, Howard and his team are preparing up for the next chapter with Elder Scrolls 6. That’s right, Bethesda’s most prized franchise is finally getting another entry. While there’s no release date yet, reports suggest it could debut late 2027. That will be 15 years since Skyrim, better late than never, right?
It’s going to be a real patience test for Fallout fans, though. Howard has confirmed that Fallout 5 will eventually happen, but development isn’t likely to begin until Elder Scrolls 6 hits the shelves. Basically, don’t expect to see the next post-apocalyptic game from Bethesda until sometime in the 2030s.
With that said, have you played Howard’s Termiantor: Future Shock? Let us know in the comments below.
