"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 been unexpectedly updated. Released towards the end of 2016, this sequel to the beloved 2012 original introduced a new playable character, Emily Kaldwin, and captivated players with 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 recognition with the release of Deathloop in 2021. Meanwhile, their sister studio, Arkane Austin, faced closure in 2024 alongside other Xbox studios such as Roundhouse Studios, Alpha Dog Games, and Tango Gameworks—although Tango was later revived by Korean publisher Krafton. Arkane Austin had previously developed 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 actively developing Marvel's Blade in partnership with Marvel Games.

Out of the blue, Dishonored 2 received a minor update across Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam platforms. This patch, weighing just 230MB, seems to focus on bug fixes and language updates, according to SteamDB. However, on Xbox, the update requires a full reinstall of the game, totaling 40GB.

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

The exact purpose of this unexpected update remains unclear, and fans are disappointed that it does not include the much-anticipated performance boost to 60 FPS. While other Arkane titles like the original Dishonored and Dishonored: Death of the Outsider have been updated to run at 60 FPS on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, Dishonored 2 remains capped at 30 FPS. Speculation suggests that a 60 FPS update might be planned for the game's tenth anniversary in 2026, though waiting that long for such an update might not satisfy fans.

The community's desire for a third mainline Dishonored game continues, but with the closure of Arkane Austin, any new entries could be many years away, if they happen at all. Currently, Arkane Lyon's focus is on their upcoming third-person game, Marvel's Blade, which has yet to announce a release date.