"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 critically acclaimed Bethesda titles from the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 era, has received an unexpected update across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. Released towards the end of 2016, Dishonored 2 introduced players to a new protagonist, Emily Kaldwin, and featured standout missions like The Clockwork Mansion and A Crack in the Slab, known for their innovative gameplay and detailed settings.

Arkane Lyon, the developer behind Dishonored 2, also gained acclaim for their 2021 release, Deathloop. Meanwhile, their sister studio, Arkane Austin, faced closure in 2024 alongside other Xbox studios such as Roundhouse Studios, Alpha Dog Games, and Tango Gameworks, the latter of which was later revived by Korean publisher Krafton. Arkane Austin was responsible for the original Dishonored, the 2017 sci-fi game Prey, and the 2023 co-op looter shooter Redfall, which received mixed reviews. Fortunately, Arkane Lyon continues to operate and is currently developing Marvel's Blade in partnership with Marvel Games.

Surprisingly, Dishonored 2 was updated recently on Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam. This update, a modest 230MB, focuses on bug fixes and language updates, according to SteamDB. However, on Xbox, the update necessitates a full reinstallation of the game, which is around 40GB.

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

The exact purpose of this unexpected update for Dishonored 2 remains unclear, but it has left many fans disappointed as it does not include the much-anticipated performance boost to 60 FPS. While other Arkane titles, including the original Dishonored and Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, can run at 60 FPS on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, Dishonored 2 remains capped at 30 FPS. There is speculation that Arkane Lyon might release a 60 FPS patch to coincide with the game's tenth anniversary in 2026, though waiting that long for such an update might not satisfy fans.

The desire for a third mainline Dishonored game persists among fans, but with the closure of Arkane Austin, the development of new Arkane titles will likely be slower. Currently, Arkane Lyon is focused on their upcoming third-person game, Marvel's Blade, which has yet to receive a release date.