Dishonored 2 Gets Surprise Update 9 Years After Launch

Surprise Patch for Dishonored 2: Bug Fixes and Language Updates

Dishonored 2, a critically acclaimed Bethesda title for Xbox One and PlayStation 4, has received an unexpected small update across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. The update, weighing in at a mere 230MB (though requiring a full 40GB re-download on Xbox), appears to primarily address bug fixes and language support. This comes as a surprise, given Arkane Lyon, the studio behind Dishonored 2, is currently focused on developing Marvel's Blade.

The 2016 release of Dishonored 2 introduced Emily Kaldwin as a playable protagonist, expanding on the beloved gameplay and intricate level design of its predecessor. While Arkane Lyon has since garnered praise for Deathloop (2021), its sister studio, Arkane Austin (responsible for the original Dishonored and Prey), was unfortunately impacted by the 2024 Xbox studio closures. This closure, alongside those of Roundhouse Studios, Alpha Dog Games, and Tango Gameworks (later revived by Krafton), significantly impacts Arkane's development capacity.

The recent Dishonored 2 patch has, however, disappointed some fans hoping for a performance enhancement. Unlike other Arkane titles, Dishonored 2 remains locked at 30 FPS on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, despite the availability of 60 FPS modes for the original Dishonored and even the standalone expansion, Death of the Outsider. While a 60 FPS update might arrive for the game's tenth anniversary in 2026, it's unclear if this is a realistic expectation.

The future of the Dishonored franchise remains uncertain. The closure of Arkane Austin will undoubtedly delay any potential third mainline entry, while Arkane Lyon's current focus on Marvel's Blade leaves little room for immediate Dishonored development. The release window for Marvel's Blade remains unannounced.