Bethesda’s and Todd Howard’s lineup of popular franchises like Fallout, Starfield, and the elusive Elder Scrolls 6 need a lot of focus and resources. But the shadow cast by these titles could block other fan-favorite series’ like Dishonored from ever seeing the light of day.
Despite previous rumors of a Dishonored 3, the recent closure of Arkane Austin, the primary studio behind the original games, casts doubt on its release. As Bethesda and its parent company, Microsoft, redirect resources to their more “high-impact” titles, the future of Dishonored looks bleaker than ever.
Todd Howard And Bethesda May Have Forever Doomed Dishonored 3
Bethesda’s ownership by Microsoft hasn’t been without its controversies. Microsoft shut down several studios earlier this year. One of these included Arkane Austin, the developer behind Redfall, a title that was not received well for many reasons.
all this for no dishonored 3 ever https://t.co/VRVCDzI5u8
— Cindy (@ElSheLaluYT) October 24, 2024
Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda, part of a broader purchase of ZeniMax in 2020, initially gave fans hope for the revival of Dishonored. Arkane Austin had even shown interest in revisiting the franchise. But as Microsoft changed its strategy, Arkane Austin became one of several studios cut from Xbox’s lineup.
Arkane Austin, the studio known for Prey and Redfall, was reportedly exploring a potential return to the Dishonored series. The intent was driven by a desire to revisit the studio’s original immersive sim style, one that defined Dishonored as an iconic stealth-action game.
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— Arkane Studios (@ArkaneStudios) May 7, 2024
Yet, just as this possibility started to gain traction, Microsoft decided to shutter Arkane Austin to streamline its portfolio. Reports at the time noted that the team had not started full development on Dishonored 3, which, if true, means the project never advanced beyond being an idea.
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Xbox head Phil Spencer and Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, made it clear that Microsoft would be focusing on its flagship franchises, such as Elder Scrolls and Fallout, aiming for the mass-market appeal that Dishonored might not bring.
Gamer Could Have So Much More If Not For Companies Only Wanting Big Hits
The Microsoft-ZeniMax merger initially held great promise for developers under Bethesda’s umbrella, with resources to create ambitious projects. But that optimism began fading after the disastrous launch of Redfall, which underperformed commercially and critically.
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Even though Redfall’s failure wasn’t cited as the reason behind the studio’s closure, it undoubtedly contributed to a more risk-averse strategy at Microsoft. The reluctance to greenlight another Dishonored in a post-Redfall landscape highlights just how much weight publishers place on commercial success.
The future of the Dishonored franchise now rests with Arkane Lyon, the team behind Dishonored 2 and Deathloop. But Arkane Lyon’s current project, Blade, is in active development. So it may be years before they could even consider picking up the Dishonored series.
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In a crowded market of studios under the Xbox banner, developers like Arkane are compelled to compete for a shrinking pool of resources. Projects are now greenlit based on the potential to become “high-impact” releases, a category that may exclude niche, story-rich titles like Dishonored.
Some fans speculate that if Blade underperforms, Arkane Lyon might face a fate similar to its sister studio in Austin. And given that most of the original Dishonored team members have moved on, any future project might struggle to replicate the original games’ unique essence.
Do you think we’re ever getting another Dishonored game? Let us know in the comments!
