Maryland, USA-based Bethesda Game Studios has opened a new development studio in Montreal, Canada. Industry veteran Yves Lachance has been appointed as studio head and leads 40 developers hired so far, to work at Bethesda's Montreal offices.
Bethesda has enjoyed considerable success with its recently published games. At the top of the list of highlights is recent smash-hit Fallout 4 with over 12 million copies sold so far, then there are other money spinners like The Elder Scrolls series and the Candy Crush-usurping Fallout Shelter mobile game.
Todd Howard, Game Director and Executive Producer at Bethesda Game Studios, said how he had previously worked with talented Montreal-based developers and "decided it was time to open a studio there". Rather than any particular focus, the Bethesda Montreal studio will expand capabilities in console, PC, and mobile gaming.
Looking at the staff roster up in Canada, Lachance was previously head of Montreal studio Behaviour Interactive who were behind surprise mobile hit Fallout Shelter, and was senior VP on Wolfenstein: The New Order. Lachance commented "Our collaboration with Bethesda Game Studios has been an exhilarating and memorable journey already," adding that he is thrilled to launch the new Bethesda studio in Montreal.
As noted by VentureBeat, Canada offers attractive tax incentives for gaming companies. The country has 472 active game studios according to the most recent figures, this figure compares to just 143 in 2013, with industry revenues up 31 per cent and those employed by the industry up 24 per cent since 2013.
At the time of writing Bethesda Game Studios Montreal is still hiring key personnel, and there are vacancies at the Maryland offices too.
