Dishonored 2

Dishonored 2
source
Title	Dishonored 2
Developer	Arkane Studios
Publisher	Bethesda Softworks
Director	Harvey Smith
Producer	Ricardo Bare
Designer	Raphael Colantonio
Composer	Daniel Licht
Engine	Void
Platforms	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Released	2016 (original), 2021 (Definitive Edition)
Genre	Action-adventure, stealth
Modes	Single-player

Dishonored 2

Dishonored 2 is a 2016 action-adventure stealth video game developed by Arkane Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. Set in the steampunk-inspired city of Karnaca and the industrial capital of Dunwall within the fictional Empire of The Isles, the game continues themes from previous works by Arkane linked to Thief (video game) and creative influences from H.P. Lovecraft, Brass Era aesthetics, and Renaissance architecture. The project involved key figures associated with Deus Ex, System Shock 2, and design philosophies from Looking Glass Studios; it emphasizes player choice, emergent gameplay, and reactive AI.

Gameplay

Dishonored 2's gameplay merges stealth mechanics pioneered in Thief (video game) with supernatural abilities reminiscent of Deus Ex augmentations and BioShock plasmids. Players choose between two protagonists—an imperial assassin with lineage tied to Emily Kaldwin and a bodyguard linked to Corvo Attano—each choice affecting access to powers and narrative threads that echo motifs from The Chronicles of Amber and The Count of Monte Cristo. Core systems include non-lethal takedowns, chaos-driven world states inspired by Spec Ops: The Line moral calculus, and navigation tools such as portal-like powers that recall mechanics in Portal and traversal gadgets akin to Assassin's Creed systems. Levels like a dilapidated mansion, ornate opera house, and fortified palace are designed as immersive sims following precedents set by Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Half-Life 2. Enemy AI routines reference patrol patterns from Metal Gear Solid and alert states modeled after Thief: The Dark Project, with sound propagation and line-of-sight rules also informed by Splinter Cell stealth frameworks. Progression includes rune-based upgrades reminiscent of Souls (series) stat gating and collectible storytelling through journals similar to BioShock Infinite voxophones.

Plot

The narrative follows a coup d'état that echoes palace intrigues from Macbeth and dynastic power struggles comparable to Game of Thrones House conflicts, rooted in conspiracies implicating the Royal Protectorate and the occult cabal connected to The Overseers. After the assassination of a central figure tied to the Imperial line—events recalling regicide in Richard III—the protagonists pursue a displaced heir through urban environments and coastal provinces, intersecting with factions such as the Dreadful Wale privateers and the Whalers' Guild. Story beats involve betrayal reminiscent of plots in The Count of Monte Cristo, an arc of revenge paralleling Hamlet, and moral choices that affect population outcomes akin to scenarios in Fallout 3. Supernatural elements derive from the outsider-like entity comparable to motifs in Lovecraftian horror and ritual fragments that connect to scholars within the Royal Conservatory. The resolution varies: players may secure sovereignty in a manner evocative of Napoleonic ascendancy or suffer decline with motifs from Plague of Athens-style calamity, driven by chaos accumulation and player agency similar to branching conclusions in Mass Effect 2.

Development

Development was led by creative personnel who split from histories at Ion Storm, Eidos Montréal, and Valve Corporation to form a vision blending immersive sim traditions from Looking Glass Studios with level design principles from Irrational Games. Preproduction drew on art research into Venice, Lisbon, and Seville coastal cityscapes, as well as architectural references from Baroque and Art Nouveau movements. The studio employed motion capture techniques paralleling those used in Uncharted 4 and voice direction with actors linked to productions from BBC Radio Drama and The Royal Shakespeare Company. Technical challenges were reminiscent of those faced during production of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim—notably optimization across CPUs and GPUs and animation blending. Composer contributions built on styles used in Dishonored (2012) while evolving soundscapes akin to Dead Space ambience; the score sessions were influenced by orchestration approaches used in Silent Hill 2. Playtesting methodology referenced iterative loops from XCOM: Enemy Unknown and user telemetry analysis practices employed at Blizzard Entertainment.

Release and marketing

Bethesda Softworks coordinated global distribution strategies similar to campaigns for Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls Online, pairing cinematic trailers with developer diaries that mirrored promotional approaches used for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. Pre-release showcases included booths at Electronic Entertainment Expo 2016 and demonstrations during Gamescom, accompanied by a collector's edition with artifacts analogous to premium bundles offered for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. A demo and timed exclusives for specific platforms drew comparisons to launch tactics used by Activision for Call of Duty titles. Post-launch support featured patches and a Definitive Edition release comparable to reissues like Halo: The Master Chief Collection, with community engagement through forums similar to Reddit AMA events and partnerships with streamers who had previously boosted visibility for Dark Souls speedruns.

Reception

Critical response blended praise and critique akin to debates around Skyrim expansions and Assassin's Creed iterations. Reviewers lauded level design and player freedom, drawing parallels to Deus Ex, Thief, and System Shock 2, while noting performance and AI issues reminiscent of early patches for Batman: Arkham Knight. Narrative and voice acting received mixed commentary comparable to discourse around Mass Effect 3 endings and character work in The Last of Us; aesthetics and sound design were frequently compared to BioShock Infinite and Dishonored (2012). Aggregate scores on platforms similar to Metacritic placed the game among top-tier titles for 2016, and academic critics discussed its moral systems in essays alongside texts about Spec Ops: The Line and Papers, Please.

Sales and awards

Commercially, the title achieved strong initial sales comparable to those of Wolfenstein: The New Order and leveraged publisher channels used by Bethesda Softworks to reach bestseller lists akin to entries from Rockstar Games. The game received nominations and awards at ceremonies paralleling the The Game Awards and BAFTA Games Awards, with wins in categories similar to Best Art Direction and Best Audio Achievement that echoed accolades previously given to Journey and Bioshock Infinite. Post-release recognition included inclusion in "best of" lists alongside The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and academic citations in analyses of immersive sims similar to those referencing Thief and Deus Ex.

Category:2016 video games Category:Stealth video games Category:Arkane Studios games