10 Most Influential Creators In Modern Video Games
5. Todd Howard
The curly haired god of the open world genre, Todd Howard is easily one of the game industries most recognisable icons. Most notable for his work on the Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises, the beloved game director's career not only established Bethesda as one of the biggest publishers in the world, but redefined what the term 'open world RPG' really meant.
From the moment Howard seized the reigns of the Elder Scrolls franchise with Morrowind, he developed his RPGs into immersive experiences like nothing fans had played before. Gamers were left to explore worlds with no boundaries or limits; they could interact with realistic characters, journey far off the beaten path and complete dynamic quests which adapted based on their decisions. His worlds were more than just levels. They were alive.
Without Howard's input, many of the quintessential features we associate with RPGs wouldn't be prevalent today. The Witcher 3, Zelda: Breath Of The Wild and the recently released Kingdom Come: Deliverance are just a selection of the numerous titles that incorporate the dense worlds sprouted from Howard's innovations.
With the developer hard at work on a project he claims will be something entirely new for the studio, it's clear his drive to deliver generation-defining experiences isn't over just yet.