Dishonored 2 Gets Surprise Update 9 Years After Launch

Summary

• A small, unexpected update for Dishonored 2 has been released on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
• This minor patch appears to focus on bug fixes and language updates.
• Arkane Lyon, the studio behind the update, is currently developing Marvel's Blade.

Dishonored 2, a critically acclaimed Bethesda title from the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 era, has received a surprise update. Released in late 2016, the game introduced Emily Kaldwin as a playable protagonist, captivating players with memorable missions like "The Clockwork Mansion" and "A Crack in the Slab," renowned for their innovative mechanics and detailed environments.

While Arkane Lyon, the developer of Dishonored 2 and the acclaimed Deathloop (2021), continues its work on Marvel's Blade, its sister studio, Arkane Austin, was unfortunately affected by the 2024 Xbox studio closures, alongside Roundhouse Studios, Alpha Dog Games, and Tango Gameworks (though Tango was later revived). Arkane Austin's portfolio included the original Dishonored, Prey (2017), and the less-well-received Redfall (2023). Arkane Lyon, however, remains active and focused on its Marvel collaboration.

Recently, Dishonored 2 players discovered a small update across Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam platforms. SteamDB indicates this update primarily addresses language files and potential bug fixes. The update is only 230MB, but on Xbox, it necessitates a full 40GB re-download of the game.

Dishonored 2 Receives a Surprise Update—But Not a 60 FPS Mode

The purpose of this unexpected update remains unclear, disappointing many who hoped for performance enhancements. Unlike most other Arkane titles, Dishonored 2 remains locked at 30 FPS on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. Even the original Dishonored and Dishonored: Death of the Outsider benefit from 60 FPS boosts on these consoles. While a 60 FPS patch for Dishonored 2's tenth anniversary in 2026 is possible, it might not be enough to satisfy long-waiting fans.

The absence of Arkane Austin significantly impacts the potential for a third mainline Dishonored game, pushing any such release far into the future, if it happens at all. Currently, Arkane Lyon is fully committed to Marvel's Blade, with no release date yet announced.