Fallout 76 & Bethesda lead designer Ferret Baudoin passes away

Published , by TJ Denzer

Tragedy has hit the Bethesda Softworks dev team. One of the leading designers on Fallout 76 has suddenly passed away. Ferret Baudoin was a long time senior designer for Bethesda Softworks who had lead design on Fallout 76 throughout its post-launch content. Baudoin reportedly passed away on October 15. No cause of death was cited, but Baudoin reportedly “passed suddenly,” and was “surrounded by friends and family.”

Ferret Baudoin’s death was reported via a tribute page to the Bethesda senior designer posted on Facebook. Baudoin’s official death was said to have happened on October 15.
“On October 15, 2022, legendary game designer Ferret Baudoin passed,” the tribute page reads. “He is surrounded by his family and friends. He loved real life as much as games. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, and son.”

The tribute page goes on to list a Buy Me A Coffee donation page where well-wishers can donate to assist Baudoin’s family with various costs and expenses in this trying time.

Ferret Baudoin's efforts go as far back as Neverwinter Nights 2 and lead all the way up to lead game design on Starfield.
Source: Obsidian Entertainment

Baudoin had a career at Bethesda that spanned around a decade. During his time, he worked as a senior designer on Fallout 4, picked up the lead designer role on Fallout 76 following its launch, including leading the Wastelanders expansion, and was even working as a senior designer on Starfield. Before Bethesda, Baudoin had also worked at BioWare as a lead designer, lending his talents to Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening and Dragon Age 2. He also worked on Neverwinter Nights 2 with Obsidian Entertainment.

Baudoin’s efforts were far and wide-reaching across a long line of impressive games. Even so, it sounds as though his passing was sudden and unexpected. Regardless, Shacknews respects the privacy of Ferret Baudoin’s family and friends in this trying time and wishes them the best.