Thief 4 Almost Happened, But Instead It Became Dishonored

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Dishonored, the popular stealth-action game by Arkane Studios, first came out in 2012. It quickly became a favorite thanks to its unique combination of a dark atmosphere, open-world gameplay focused on stealth, and a captivating story. Interestingly, the Dishonored we know today was originally planned as part of a completely different game series.

The creators of the first Dishonored originally intended it to be a new game in the Thief series. Before Dishonored came to be, Arkane Studios was also working on a Blade Runner game. Ultimately, the studio decided to create something entirely new. Although Thief fans might have been disappointed, this shift allowed Dishonored to develop its own distinctive style and atmosphere, which made it a successful and memorable game.

How We Almost Got Arkane’s Thief 4 Instead Of Dishonored

While playing through Dishonored, co-directors Raphael Colantonio and Harvey Smith shared details about the game’s development. They revealed that before Dishonored, Arkane Studios had begun work on both a Blade Runner game and a new Thief installment. Bethesda had asked Arkane to pitch ideas for both franchises, and the team made significant progress on a potential Thief sequel – so much so that the directors believe they had a fantastic concept for the next game in the series.

When Bethesda couldn’t secure the rights to certain game properties, they continued working with Arkane Studios. They asked Arkane to rework their ideas for a fourth Thief game, changing the story and how it was presented, which eventually led to the creation of Dishonored. Officially revealed in 2011 and released in October 2012, Dishonored was a big hit for the studio and spawned several sequels. Fans of Thief did eventually get a new game with the 2014 reboot, though it received a mixed reception upon its release.

Dishonored Works Because It’s More Than Just A Thief Riff

The influence of Thief is clear in Dishonored, particularly how both games blend stealth and action. However, Dishonored went through significant changes during development. Initially, the game was envisioned in settings like medieval Japan or 17th-century London. When playtesters discovered unexpected ways to complete objectives—ways the developers hadn’t planned—the team embraced this freedom. They even reworked levels to encourage more player experimentation and creativity.

Ultimately, it was a good thing Arkane had the freedom to create their own game instead of being tied to the existing Thief series. While Dishonored still captures some of the feel of those older stealth games, choosing to forge a new path allowed the team to develop something truly unique. Dishonored was Arkane Studios’ first project after being acquired by ZeniMax Media (Bethesda’s parent company), which provided them with greater resources and the opportunity to make something special, rather than just another sequel.

Ultimately, Dishonored became truly special because your actions during missions – not quick-time events or conversations – determined whether you were considered good or bad. It’s interesting to consider how things could have turned out differently for the developers, and the Thief series, if they’d continued with that original concept. However, in the long run, it’s probably a good thing we got to experience something fresh and new.

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2026-05-27 21:10