How long would it take if you followed Todd Howard's game development process?

Asked on: 7/26/2025

This question has been asked1times.

Following Todd Howard's game development process could take 3-5 years for a high-quality AAA game.

Estimated Duration: 1460 days

Todd Howard, known for directing games like Skyrim and Fallout, follows an iterative, detail-oriented development process that emphasizes deep world-building, player freedom, and polished mechanics. A typical Bethesda-style AAA game takes 3-5 years, involving pre-production, prototyping, full-scale development, and extensive QA testing. Key factors include large open-world design, complex systems integration, and narrative depth. Smaller studios or indie developers adapting his methods might take longer without equivalent resources.