Pete Hines is one of the most influential figures in the gaming industry, having worked as the head of global marketing and communications at Bethesda Softworks for over two decades. He is responsible for promoting some of the most popular and critically acclaimed games in history, such as The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Dishonored, DOOM, and Starfield.
He is also known for his charismatic and passionate personality, often engaging with fans and media on social media platforms and events. In this article, we will explore his personal and professional life, his achievements and challenges, and his recent decision to retire from Bethesda.
Family & Early Life
Pete Hines was born on July 19, 1969, in the United States of America. He is a Cancer by zodiac sign. He grew up in a family with a rich legacy, as his parents, David A. Hines and Susan A. Hines, were both prominent lawyers who served in various government positions.
His father was a former assistant attorney general for civil rights under President Jimmy Carter, and his mother was a former deputy assistant secretary of state for human rights under President Ronald Reagan.
Academic Background
Hines attended Wake Forest University in North Carolina, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1991. He then pursued a master’s degree in journalism at the University of South Carolina, where he graduated in 1993.
The Marketing Mastermind Behind Bethesda’s Blockbuster Games
Hines joined Bethesda Softworks’ marketing department in 1999, after working as a public relations manager at Infogrames (now Atari). He was hired by Robert Altman, the founder and CEO of ZeniMax Media, Bethesda’s parent company. Hines was initially tasked with promoting The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, the third installment of the acclaimed role-playing game series that was released in 2002.
Hines quickly rose to prominence within the company, becoming the senior vice president of global marketing and communications. He oversaw the marketing campaigns for all of Bethesda’s games, as well as those of its subsidiaries and partners, such as id Software, Arkane Studios, MachineGames, Tango Gameworks, and ZeniMax Online Studios. He also became the public face of Bethesda, frequently attending and speaking at conferences, events, interviews, podcasts, and livestreams with Bethesda’s director and producer Todd Howard.
Some of the most notable games that Hines helped promote include:
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006), which won multiple Game of the Year awards and sold over 9 million copies worldwide.
- Fallout 3 (2008), which revived the post-apocalyptic franchise that was acquired by Bethesda from Interplay Entertainment. It also won several Game of the Year awards and sold over 12 million copies worldwide.
- Fallout: New Vegas (2010), which was developed by Obsidian Entertainment as a spin-off of Fallout 3. It received critical acclaim and sold over 8 million copies worldwide.
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011), became one of the best-selling video games of all time, with over 30 million copies sold worldwide. It also won numerous Game of the Year awards and spawned several expansions and remasters.
- The Elder Scrolls Online (2014), was developed by ZeniMax Online Studios as a massively multiplayer online role-playing game set in the Elder Scrolls universe. It has over 18 million players as of 2021 and has received several updates and expansions.
- Fallout 4 (2015), broke several sales records at launch and sold over 13 million copies within its first week. It also won multiple Game of the Year awards and featured a robust crafting system and settlement-building mechanic.
- Dishonored (2012) and Dishonored 2 (2016), which were developed by Arkane Studios as stealth-action games set in a steampunk-inspired world. They received critical acclaim for their gameplay, story, and art direction.
- DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal (2020), which were developed by id Software as rebooted versions of the iconic first-person shooter franchise. They received praise for their fast-paced combat, gore, and soundtrack.
- Starfield (2023), which was developed by Bethesda Game Studios as its first new intellectual property in 25 years. It is a sci-fi role-playing game set in space that features exploration, customization, and choice. It was released exclusively for Xbox Series X|S and PC on November 11th, 2023.
In October 2020, Hines was promoted to head of global publishing at Bethesda Softworks. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing all aspects of publishing operations across all regions and platforms.
A New Chapter: Pete Hines Bids Farewell to Bethesda
On October 16th, 2023, Hines announced his retirement from Bethesda Softworks via his social media accounts. He stated that he had decided to end his 24-year career at the company and begin a new chapter of his life exploring his interests and passions, donating his time where he can, and taking more time to enjoy life. He thanked his colleagues and fans for their support and friendship and said that he would remain a part of the Bethesda community.
Hines’ retirement announcement came as a surprise to many, as he had just helped launch Starfield, Bethesda’s most ambitious and anticipated game to date. It also came shortly after Microsoft’s acquisition of ZeniMax Media, which was finalized in March 2021. The deal, worth $7.5 billion, gave Microsoft ownership of Bethesda and its subsidiaries, as well as exclusive rights to its future games.
Hines was one of the vocal supporters of the acquisition, stating that it was the perfect fit for Bethesda and that it would allow the studio to make even better games going forward. He also said that he had a great relationship with Microsoft and its executives, such as Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox.
However, Hines also expressed some frustration with the deal during his testimony before the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in June 2021. The FTC was investigating Microsoft’s proposed merger with Activision Blizzard, another major gaming company that owns franchises such as Call of Duty, Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo. Hines implied that he was blindsided and annoyed by Xbox’s decision to keep Activision’s games multiplatform while forcing Bethesda’s games to be exclusive to Xbox and PC.
Hines’ retirement was met with an outpouring of gratitude and appreciation from his colleagues, peers, and fans. Bethesda Softworks issued a statement on its official Twitter account, thanking Hines for his contributions to the company and wishing him well in his future endeavors. It also posted a humorous doctor’s note excusing Hines from work, referencing some of the games he had promoted.
Many prominent figures in the gaming industry also reacted to Hines’ retirement announcement, such as Todd Howard, Phil Spencer, Aaron Greenberg, Geoff Keighley, Jason Schreier, Greg Miller, and more. They praised Hines for his passion, professionalism, and personality, and congratulated him on his successful career.
Net Worth & Income
Pete Hines has enjoyed a thriving career, and his financial success is evident, with an estimated net worth ranging from $5 million according to all famous birthday reports1. This wealth has primarily been accumulated through his extensive tenure at Bethesda Softworks as well as other professional endeavors.
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a senior vice president of global marketing and communications in the United States is $213,000 per year. However, this figure may vary depending on the company, industry, location, experience, and performance. Given Hines’ long and successful career at Bethesda Softworks, one of the leading gaming companies in the world, it is likely that he earned much more than the average salary for his position.
Marriage, Wife & Children
Pete Hines is married to Donita Hines, whom he met while working at Infogrames. They have two children together: a son named David and a daughter named Emma. Hines is very close to his family and often shares pictures and videos of them on his social media accounts.
Hines is also an avid gamer himself, playing various genres and platforms. Some of his favorite games include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Horizon Zero Dawn, God of War, Spider-Man, Red Dead Redemption 2, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us Part II, Cyberpunk 2077, Halo Infinite, and more.
Hines is also a fan of sports, especially basketball and football. He supports the Washington Wizards and the Washington Football Team (formerly known as the Redskins). He also enjoys collecting sports cards and memorabilia.
Hines is also passionate about animal welfare and rescue. He regularly fosters dogs from local shelters and helps them find their forever homes. He also supports various animal charities and organizations, such as Best Friends Animal Society.
Wiki, BIO
| Name | Pete Hines |
| Date of Birth | July 19, 1969 |
| Age | 54 years old (as of 2023) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in English from Wake Forest University, Master’s degree in journalism from University of South Carolina |
| Source | News Unzip |
| Occupation | Former head of global marketing and communications, and head of global publishing at Bethesda Softworks |
| Spouse | Denita Hines |
| Children | David Hines, Emma Hines |
| Social Media Accounts | Twitter: @DCDeacon LinkedIn: pete-hines-6987131 IMDb: nm3137017 Instagram: @thedcdeacon |
Summary
Pete Hines is one of the most influential figures in the gaming industry, having worked as the head of global marketing and communications at Bethesda Softworks for over two decades. He is responsible for promoting some of the most popular and critically acclaimed games in history, such as The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Dishonored, DOOM, and Starfield. He is also known for his charismatic and passionate personality, often engaging with fans and media on social media platforms and events.
Hines announced his retirement from Bethesda Softworks on October 16th, 2023. He stated that he had decided to end his 24-year career at the company and begin a new chapter of his life exploring his interests and passions, donating his time where he can, and taking more time to enjoy life. He thanked his colleagues and fans for their support and friendship and said that he would remain a part of the Bethesda community.
