Dishonored 2: Critical Acclaim Couldn’t Save a Troubled Franchise

Dishonored 2: Critical Acclaim Couldn’t Save a Troubled Franchise

Arkane Studios’ Dishonored 2 garnered widespread critical praise, yet disappointing sales figures cast a shadow on the future of the beloved stealth-action series.

Arkane Studios’ Dishonored 2, released in 2016, stands as a testament to the complexities of the video game industry. While the title received overwhelmingly positive reviews, lauded for its intricate level design, compelling narrative choices, and empowering player agency, its commercial performance fell significantly short of expectations. This disparity between critical success and underwhelming sales has left the future of the Dishonored franchise hanging in the balance.

The game’s ambitious scope, featuring two playable protagonists – Emily Kaldwin and Corvo Attano – each with unique powers and playstyles, was praised by critics. The richly detailed environments, brimming with secrets and alternative routes, encouraged multiple playthroughs and rewarded careful observation. The game’s branching narrative, impacted significantly by player choices, further amplified its replayability. Many reviewers hailed Dishonored 2 as a masterpiece of immersive simulation, a refined evolution of the original’s formula.

However, the game’s high system requirements, coupled with reports of various performance issues on PC at launch, significantly impacted its reception among players. These technical difficulties, alongside a perceived lack of marketing compared to other AAA titles, contributed to lower-than-expected sales. While subsequent patches addressed many of these problems, the initial negative press and word-of-mouth proved difficult to overcome.

The commercial underperformance of Dishonored 2 raises important questions about the current state of the video game market. Can a game with near-universal critical acclaim still fail to achieve commercial success? The answer, in Dishonored 2’s case, seems to be a resounding yes. The game’s challenging technical hurdles at launch, coupled with perhaps a less visible marketing campaign, seem to be significant factors in dampening sales.

The impact on Arkane Studios and the future of the Dishonored franchise remains uncertain. While the studio has since moved on to other successful projects, the commercial failure of Dishonored 2 serves as a cautionary tale. It highlights the delicate balance between critical acclaim and commercial viability, emphasizing the importance of technical stability and marketing reach in achieving widespread success in the fiercely competitive video game landscape. The question remains: will we ever see a Dishonored 3, or will this acclaimed series remain a beloved, but ultimately unfulfilled, potential?

Veteran game reviewer and news specialist, providing informed commentary and critical analysis of video games for 13 years. With expertise spanning diverse genres and platforms, he offer a nuanced perspective on the ever-evolving gaming landscape.

11 comments

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SarahConnor87

Dishonored 2 was a masterpiece, hands down. The level design alone was worth the price of admission. Shame about the PC launch issues though; that really soured the experience for a lot of people. Hopefully, they’ll revisit the franchise someday, but with better optimization.

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RetroGamerDude

A classic example of critical darling, commercial flop. The gameplay was sublime, the story was engaging, but the tech problems and marketing missteps killed it. A real tragedy.

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PixelPusherPro

As a developer myself, I can see the challenge Arkane faced. Balancing ambition with technical feasibility is tough. Dishonored 2’s ambition clearly outweighed its initial technical capabilities, impacting sales despite critical acclaim. A valuable lesson learned.

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GamingGrandma

I loved the story and the characters! My grandson helped me through the harder parts and we had a blast. It’s a shame more people didn’t get to experience it.

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MasterChief117

I’m still salty about the PC port. I waited months for it to be playable, and by then, the hype had died down. A shame, because the game itself is fantastic.

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SilentSpectre7

The dual protagonists were genius! Emily and Corvo’s different approaches added so much replayability. But yeah, those launch issues… oof. Bethesda needs to step up their QA.

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LadyOfChaos

Absolutely stunning visuals and world-building. The level of detail was incredible. Too bad the technical issues overshadowed all that. I still hold out hope for Dishonored 3.

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TheLoneWolf21

A victim of its own ambition. They tried to do too much, and the initial result suffered. It’s a shame, but it’s a reminder that even great games need a solid foundation.

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Nightjar84

I’ve played through Dishonored 2 multiple times, despite the rough start. It’s a genuinely brilliant game. But if I were to buy it now, I’d probably wait for a sale – a lesson Arkane and Bethesda should learn.

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CoffeeAddict123

Such a captivating narrative! The choices you made actually mattered! It felt so rewarding to play through and explore. However, the initial performance issues were a dealbreaker for many, including myself.

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CrimsonGamer666

Disappointing sales figures don’t negate the fact that Dishonored 2 is an exceptional game. The narrative, the gameplay, the level design… It’s a modern classic. But needs better optimization and marketing!