According to Bethesda, the next iteration in its acclaimed Dishonored series will launch on November 11, 2016.
Ever since the title's formal E3 announcement back in mid-2015, fans of the action/RPG hybrid have been wondering if the sequel will deliver on the promise made by Arkane Studios' Harvey Smith: “everything you see in that trailer you can do in the game.” As you can see, that's going to be a rather tall order to fill.
The original Dishonored struck a distinct chord back in October 2012 amongst fans of lore-heavy universes, something Bethesda has long specialized in promoting. Its steampunk atmosphere, combined with a compelling story and new twists on first-person combat, earned Dishonored a 91 on Metacritic, with fan reviews nearly matching at 8.4/10.
This time around the game is set in the Empire's "jewel of the south", Karnaca, presenting a tropical feel guaranteed to be much different from Dunwall's imposing industrial architecture. With the option to play as either Empress Emily Kaldwin or her personal paladin Corvo Attano, Dishonored 2 also promises more story than its predecessor. And with any luck the stealth options will be a bit more robust, some fans of the original having voiced concerns that sneaking about was less useful than simply barging their way through all opposition.
Quick Take
Lofty ambitions can bring success, but they have to be brought to fruition. Fallout 4 launched to huge hype, but a mediocre story and departures from existing canon did a lot to sour many longtime fans despite the improved aesthetics and game mechanics. So the real question on everyone's mind is: can Arkane pull off getting lightning to strike twice? Whether you choose to run Dishonored 2 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One or PC, you'll be able to find out come November.
What do you think? Does the Dishonored name have some legs on it? Let us know in the comments below!
