The future of Dishonored: fans hope for a third game

Dishonored is a stealth-action game released in 2012 and developed by Arkane. The game received widespread praise for its open-ended level design and unique steampunk aesthetic, set in a world ravaged by a rat plague. With a 9.2 score from IGN and multiple awards, it is considered one of the best stealth games ever made.

The original release and its sequel

Dishonored launched in 2012 and quickly earned recognition from both critics and players. The game combined stealth, action, and fantasy elements, allowing players to approach objectives in different ways. That created a unique gameplay experience.

A sequel, Dishonored 2, followed in 2016 and was also praised for its creativity and gameplay. Despite the positive response to the gameplay, Dishonored 2 disappointed in sales, raising questions about the future of the franchise.

The closure of Arkane Austin

In 2024, Arkane's Austin studio shut down following the disappointing release of Redfall. That put extra pressure on the remaining studio, Arkane Lyon, which is still active and currently working on Marvel's Blade.

Recent fan interest and social media

There has recently been renewed interest in Dishonored, largely thanks to a viral post on X (formerly Twitter) that racked up more than 10 million views and 33,000 likes. Many fans shared their love for the game and encouraged others to give it a try. Arkane even responded to the post to thank the original poster for playing and enjoying the game.

Still, it remains to be seen whether that social media hype will translate into a real increase in players. SteamDB stats show that both Dishonored games currently have fewer than 1,000 players, with a peak of around 800 players in the last 24 hours.

The possibility of Dishonored 3

Rumors have suggested that Dishonored 3 has been in development since 2020. A leaked Microsoft document from 2023 indicated the game was planned for release in fiscal year 2024. So far, however, no further updates have been announced. That has led to speculation that the game may have been delayed, although other projects from that document, such as the Oblivion remaster and Doom: The Dark Ages, have since been released.

While there are no concrete announcements about Dishonored 3 right now, some fans believe Xbox could give Arkane another chance to invest in a Dishonored game, especially after a difficult generation for the platform. Even so, that likely would not happen until the early 2030s, since Marvel's Blade still appears to be a few years away from release.

Conclusion

The future of the Dishonored franchise remains uncertain, but the recent surge in fan interest may offer a small glimmer of hope for a third game. While Arkane Lyon focuses on other projects, the question remains whether fans will one day get to experience new adventures in Dishonored's steampunk world.