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 unique mechanics and detailed environments.

While Arkane Lyon, the developer of Dishonored 2 and 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 was responsible for the original Dishonored, Prey (2017), and the less well-received Redfall (2023).

Recently, Dishonored 2 players discovered a small update across Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam platforms. SteamDB indicates this update primarily addresses language files and minor bug fixes. The update weighs in at a mere 230MB, though Xbox users require a full 40GB re-download.

Dishonored 2 Receives a Surprise Update—But No 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 fans' long-standing desire for improved performance.

Many fans eagerly anticipate a third mainline Dishonored title, but its development, if even in consideration, is likely years away. The closure of Arkane Austin further complicates this, significantly impacting Arkane's game production capacity. Currently, Arkane Lyon is fully focused on its upcoming third-person action game, Marvel's Blade, with no official release date announced.