Dishonored 2 is something of an anomaly in the video game industry - the rare triple-A release that garners largely positive critical reviews and struggles with sales at the same time. While a rocky PC launch is at least partially to blame for the disappointing sales Dishonored 2 experienced at launch, the game has since been largely improved on both computers and consoles, and Bethesda and Arkane Studios haven't given up on the title yet.

Dishonored 2: Death of the Outsider is slated for a release later this year, and creative director Harvey Smith recently featured on a video released by Bethesda where he described the game as "definitely a standalone adventure" rather than DLC. According to Smith, Dishonored 2: Death of the Outsider will let players assume the role of fan-favorite Billie Lurk for the first time ever, and the new content is being designed to function as both closure for longtime players of the series and a useful starting point for those interested in trying a Dishonored game for the first time. Here's Smith describing the team's approach to Death of the Outsider:

"We love it as something that if you're really into Dishonored, you played Dishonored 1Dishonored 2, the other DLC, you can go get it and play it and it really closes out the arc - this part of the Dishonored story - related to the political assassination of Jessica Kaldwin. On the other hand, if you've never played a Dishonored game, you can actually go pick up Death of the Outsider and it can be your entry point into the series; you don't need to know anything from before."

While it remains to be seen just how effective a game trying to close out an arc that has spanned multiple titles can be at introducing new fans to the world of Dishonored as well, it would be the perfect balance for Bethesda. Recent Dishonored 2 updates have vastly improved the game's replayability, and enticing fans into revisiting the world of Dishonored might be all it takes to see a secondary surge in the sequel's sales.

dishonored 2 death of the outsider billie lurk

Dishonored 2: Death of the Outsider will certainly raise the stakes of the series as well. With past games dealing largely with political machinations and justice, Death of the Outsider will finally shed some more light on the supernatural elements of the series, with Lurk and mentor Daud seeking to end the existence of the god-like Outsider once and for all.

Dishonored 2: Death of the Outsider releases on September 15, 2017 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

Source: Bethesda.net