Dishonored 2 Gets Surprise Update 9 Years After Launch

Summary

• Dishonored 2, a critically acclaimed Bethesda title, received a small, unexpected update across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms.
• This minor patch primarily addresses bug fixes and language updates.
• Arkane Lyon, the studio behind Dishonored 2, is currently developing Marvel's Blade.

Released in late 2016, Dishonored 2, a sequel to the beloved 2012 original, introduced Emily Kaldwin as a playable protagonist. Missions like "The Clockwork Mansion" and "A Crack in the Slab" are remembered for their innovative gameplay and richly detailed environments.

While Arkane Lyon, the developer of Dishonored 2 and the acclaimed 2021 title Deathloop, continues its work, its sister studio, Arkane Austin (responsible for the original Dishonored, Prey, and Redfall), was unfortunately impacted by the 2024 Xbox studio closures. This closure, which also affected studios like Roundhouse Studios, Alpha Dog Games, and Tango Gameworks (later revived by Krafton), significantly impacts Arkane's overall output. Arkane Lyon, however, remains active and is collaborating with Marvel Games on Marvel's Blade.

Recently, a small update (approximately 230MB) for Dishonored 2 appeared on Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam. SteamDB indicates this update focuses on language file adjustments, alongside bug fixes. Interestingly, on Xbox, this seemingly minor update necessitates a full 40GB game re-download.

Dishonored 2 Receives a Surprise Update—But Not 60 FPS

The purpose of this unexpected update remains unclear, disappointing many who hoped for a performance enhancement. Unlike other Arkane titles that boast 60 FPS on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, Dishonored 2 remains locked at 30 FPS. Even the original Dishonored and its standalone spin-off, Death of the Outsider, now support 60 FPS thanks to console updates. While a 60 FPS patch for Dishonored 2's tenth anniversary in 2026 is possible, it's unclear if this is sufficient to meet fan expectations.

The long-awaited third mainline Dishonored entry remains uncertain, further complicated by Arkane Austin's closure. This significantly impacts the studio's development capacity. Currently, Arkane Lyon's focus is on Marvel's Blade, a third-person action game without a confirmed release date.