"Dishonored 2 Receives Unexpected Update 9 Years Post-Launch"

Summary

• Dishonored 2 unexpectedly received a small update for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
• The patch is quite small and appears to include bug fixes and language updates.
• Arkane Lyon is currently working on Marvel's Blade.

Dishonored 2, one of the most highly acclaimed Bethesda games from the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 era, has been unexpectedly updated across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. Released at the end of 2016, Dishonored 2 built on the success of its 2012 predecessor by introducing a new playable character, Emily Kaldwin. The game is renowned for its standout missions like The Clockwork Mansion and A Crack in the Slab, which captivated players with innovative gameplay mechanics and detailed environments.

Arkane Lyon, the developer behind Dishonored 2, also created the critically acclaimed Deathloop in 2021. However, their sister studio, Arkane Austin, faced closure in 2024 alongside other Xbox studios such as Roundhouse Studios, Alpha Dog Games, and Tango Gameworks. Despite Tango's revival by Korean publisher Krafton, the closure of Arkane Austin—a studio known for the original Dishonored, 2017's Prey, and the 2023 co-op looter shooter Redfall—marks a significant loss for the gaming community. Fortunately, Arkane Lyon continues to operate and is currently developing Marvel's Blade in collaboration with Marvel Games.

Out of the blue, fans noticed a small update for Dishonored 2 across Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam. This update, weighing in at just 230MB, seems to focus on minor bug fixes and language updates. Interestingly, on Xbox, the update requires a full reinstall of the 40GB game.

Dishonored 2 Receives a Surprise New Update, but Not a 60 FPS Mode

The purpose of this unexpected update for Dishonored 2 remains somewhat unclear, but it has disappointed many fans who were hoping for a performance boost. Unlike other Arkane titles, which can run at 60 FPS on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, Dishonored 2 remains capped at 30 FPS. Both the original Dishonored and the standalone spinoff, Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, released in 2017, benefit from enhanced performance on newer consoles. Speculation suggests that Arkane Lyon might consider a 60 FPS update for Dishonored 2's tenth anniversary in 2026, though waiting that long for such an update might not satisfy eager fans.

While the gaming community eagerly anticipates a third mainline Dishonored game, its development could be significantly delayed, especially following the closure of Arkane Austin. Currently, Arkane Lyon is focused on their upcoming third-person action game, Marvel's Blade, which does not yet have a confirmed release date.