Todd Howard's Fanboy Admiration for Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann Revealed by Former Artist

Key facts

• Heather Cerlan worked at Naughty Dog for several years and at Bethesda from April 2018 to April 2021.
• Cerlan contributed to The Last of Us and Uncharted series at Naughty Dog, and worked on Starfield at Bethesda.
• Todd Howard expressed admiration for Neil Druckmann during a lunch with Cerlan, her art director, and a senior producer.
• The Last of Us TV series was announced in March 2020; the Fallout series was announced in July 2020.
• Fallout series premiered one year after The Last of Us series, both having been in development limbo through much of the 2010s.
• Bethesda released code-in-box physical versions of Fallout 4 and Skyrim Anniversary Edition for Switch 2.
• Skyrim Anniversary Edition on Switch 2 received a 60Hz mode; Fallout 4 added DLSS support.
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered will also be a code-in-box release on Switch 2; Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will have a physical game card.

A Legend's Admiration

Todd Howard, the executive producer and driving force behind The Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises, harbored a fan-like admiration for Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann, according to a former artist who worked at both studios. Heather Cerlan, who spent several years at Naughty Dog before joining Bethesda in April 2018, shared the anecdote in an interview with the Kiwi Talkz channel. About a week into her tenure at Bethesda, she went to lunch with Howard, her art director, and a senior producer, where Howard spoke of Druckmann with evident reverence. Cerlan admitted she was taken aback. Howard himself is a legend in the industry, responsible for some of the most ambitious games ever made. Yet his recognition of Druckmann's achievements — particularly the creation of Uncharted and The Last of Us — underscored a mutual respect between two titans of game development.

Rivalry Over TV Adaptations

Cerlan also speculated that an unspoken rivalry may have existed between the studios regarding television adaptations of their flagship franchises. Both The Last of Us and Fallout had been in various stages of development for TV throughout the 2010s, with projects stalling and restarting multiple times. The Last of Us series was officially announced in March 2020, followed by the Fallout series in July of the same year — both receiving green lights within months of each other. Fallout's show eventually premiered a year after The Last of Us, a timing that Cerlan suggested could have fueled competitive dynamics between the teams, though she acknowledged she did not know the exact status of either project during her time at Bethesda. Howard himself has not ruled out a potential The Elder Scrolls adaptation, though he indicated it might not arrive until the 2030s.

Physical Releases Without the Disc

Separately, Bethesda this week released so-called "physical" versions of Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition for the Nintendo Switch 2. However, these are not true physical releases: they are code-in-box packages, with the box art explicitly stating that a game card is "not included" and that a full game download is required. Bethesda confirmed the nature of the release, effectively making the box a display case rather than a functional medium. Owners of the eShop versions gain nothing new from these packages. Updates have been released for both titles on Switch 2, including a 60Hz mode for Skyrim and DLSS support for Fallout 4. Looking ahead, Bethesda has confirmed that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered will also be distributed as a code-in-box release on Switch 2, while Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will be available as a physical game card at retail.

The Broader Context of Industry Admiration

Cerlan's revelation offers a rare glimpse into the personal dynamics between leading figures in game development. Howard, often seen as the face of Bethesda's sprawling open-world titles, is not typically portrayed as a fan of another developer's work. Yet his willingness to express admiration for Druckmann — who helmed Naughty Dog's narrative-driven blockbusters — highlights a cross-studio respect that is often invisible to the public. The anecdote also underscores the interconnected nature of the industry. Cerlan's own career path — from Naughty Dog to Bethesda — is emblematic of the talent flow between major studios. Her work on The Last of Us and Uncharted at Naughty Dog and Starfield at Bethesda places her in a unique position to observe both cultures.

What Comes Next

The code-in-box trend for Switch 2 releases raises questions about the future of physical media in gaming. Bethesda's decision to offer display cases rather than game cards may disappoint collectors but aligns with industry moves toward digital distribution. The upcoming Oblivion Remastered will follow the same model, while Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will buck the trend with a proper physical card. On the adaptation front, the success of both The Last of Us and Fallout series has likely intensified interest in further TV projects. Howard's hint at a potential The Elder Scrolls adaptation suggests that Bethesda is open to expanding its franchises beyond games, though timelines remain speculative. For now, the story of Howard's admiration for Druckmann serves as a reminder that even the most accomplished creators are not immune to being fans themselves.

The bottom line

• Todd Howard expressed personal admiration for Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann, as recounted by former Bethesda artist Heather Cerlan.
• Cerlan worked on The Last of Us and Uncharted at Naughty Dog and on Starfield at Bethesda, giving her insight into both studios.
• TV adaptations of The Last of Us and Fallout were announced within months of each other in 2020, with Fallout premiering a year later.
• Bethesda's Switch 2 physical releases of Fallout 4 and Skyrim are code-in-box, not actual game cards.
• Oblivion Remastered will also be code-in-box on Switch 2, while Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will have a physical card.
• Howard has not ruled out a The Elder Scrolls TV adaptation, but it may not arrive until the 2030s.