Lionhead, Bethesda leave hints of next-gen development

Two of gaming’s most prominent developers have been spotted searching for new talent to work on games for next generation consoles.

Bethesda is most famous for Fallout 3 and more recently The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, while Lionehead is headed up by industry luminary Peter Molyneux, and is responsible for the likes of Black & White and the Fable series.

A listing spotted on Bethesda owner Zenimax Media’s recruitment website states that the studio is looking for “experienced programmers to work on cutting-edge technology for an unannounced game on future-generation consoles.”

Preferred skills include working with DirectX 11, which gives us an idea of what to expect from the visuals that will be possible with the next generation of console games.

The Linohead job listing was spotted on the Microsoft careers portal, and the position described is for an “experienced Lead Engine Programmer to be a key contributor on an unannounced title.” It does not specifically state that the position is for a next-gen console game, but part of the key criteria is, again, being able to work with DirectX 11.

Given that Lionhead has tended to focus on console game development in recent years, coupled with the fact that it is now owned by Microsoft, it seems safe to assume that they are not hiring to develop a DirectX 11 PC game.

With Nintendo’s Wii U console confirmed for release later this year, and an industry at large that is waiting with bated breath for Microsoft and Sony to announce their own next-generation platforms, rumours surrounding the “PlayStation 4” and “Xbox 720” have reached fever pitch.

Will we see more next-generation console announcements before the year is out? All bets are off at this point, but watch this space!