The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences announced this morning that Bethesda Game Studios’ Executive Producer and Game Director, Todd Howard, would be welcomed into their Hall of Fame at the upcoming 20th annual D.I.C.E. Awards. Howard is the 22nd individual to receive the honor, and will be presented the award by his long-time colleague, Pete Hines, Bethesda’s VP of Public Relations and Marketing.

As described by the AIAS themselves, the Hall of Fame honor is bestowed on game creators who have been instrumental in the development of highly influential games and moving a particular genre forward. These individuals demonstrate the highest level of creativity and innovation, resulting in significant product influence on a scale that expands the scope of the industry. Past AIAS Hall of Fame recipients include: Hideo Kojima (2016), Leslie Benzies (2014), Dan and Sam Houser (2014), Tim Sweeney (2012), Dr. Greg Zeschuk (2011), and Dr. Ray Muzyka (2011).

Todd Howard is likely best known for being integral to the growth and direction of The Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises. Howard began his video game development career at Bethesda in 1994, with his first game development credit coming in 1995 with The Terminator: Future Shock. From there, Howard would join the Elder Scrolls team as a designer on The Elder Scrolls: Chapter II – Daggerfall. He has remained with the series ever since. In 2008, serving as executive producer and game director, Howard was also integral to ending the decade long dormancy of the Fallout series with Fallout 3.

“Todd is revered by legions of fans not just for his creative leadership over the years but for his humility and humor,” said Ted Price, CEO and Founder of Insomniac Games, and Vice Chairman of the AIAS. “Despite the fact that he’s helmed several of the most successful franchises in the history of our industry, he consistently defers praise to others and is the quintessential team player. Yet it’s Todd’s vision and strong direction that has brought Tamriel and the Commonwealth to life for millions around the world. I’m in awe of his accomplishments and am proud to call him a friend. I can’t think of anyone who deserves this honor more than he does.”

The 2017 AIAS Hall of Fame Award will be presented to Howard during the 20th annual D.I.C.E. Awards on Thursday, February 23rd, 2017, at the Mandalay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. For those unable to attend in person, stay tuned to EGM for details on how you’ll likely be able to stream the awards on that date.