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 acclaimed Bethesda titles from the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 era, has received an unexpected update across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. Released towards the end of 2016, the game expanded on its 2012 predecessor by introducing Emily Kaldwin as a new playable protagonist alongside Corvo Attano. Memorable missions such as The Clockwork Mansion and A Crack in the Slab captivated players with their innovative gameplay and detailed settings.

The game was developed by Arkane Lyon, which later gained further recognition with the 2021 release of Deathloop. Unfortunately, its sister studio, Arkane Austin, was shut down in 2024 as part of broader Xbox studio closures that also affected Roundhouse Studios, Alpha Dog Games, and Tango Gameworks. The latter was later revived by the Korean publisher Krafton. Arkane Austin had previously crafted the original Dishonored, the 2017 sci-fi title Prey, and the 2023 co-op looter shooter Redfall, which faced criticism. Meanwhile, Arkane Lyon continues to operate and is currently developing Marvel's Blade in partnership with Marvel Games.

Recently, fans of Dishonored 2 were surprised to find a new update had been released for the game on Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam. This update is a minor patch, primarily focusing on bug fixes, although SteamDB notes it also includes updates to the game's language depots. The patch size is just 230MB, but on Xbox, it necessitates a full reinstall of the game, amounting to 40GB.

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

The exact purpose of this unexpected update for Dishonored 2 remains unclear, but it has left many fans disappointed as it does not include the much-anticipated performance boost to 60 FPS. While other Arkane titles, including the original Dishonored and Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, have been optimized to run at 60 FPS on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, Dishonored 2 remains capped at 30 FPS. Speculation suggests that Arkane Lyon might consider a 60 FPS update for the game's tenth anniversary in 2026, though such a delay might not satisfy fans eager for immediate improvements.

The prospect of a third mainline Dishonored game seems distant, if it happens at all, especially following the closure of Arkane Austin, which is likely to impact the pace of new releases from Arkane Studios. Currently, Arkane Lyon's focus is on their upcoming third-person game, Marvel's Blade, which has yet to receive a release date.