Deathloopis the upcoming game fromDishonoreddeveloper Arkane. The title was announced back in 2019, and is currently set for release in May of 2021. At first, fans might notice all the apparent similarities betweenDishonoredand the new game when watching its gameplay trailer.
Deathloopwill be a first-person stealth shooter, and even has mechanics which look just like the magic players use inDishonored, like Blink. However, there is one key change being made inDeathloopwhich could make all the difference and could also help overcome one ofDishonored’s most frustrating feature.
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Dishonored’s Most Frustrating Feature
The only way to get the best ending inDishonoredorDishonored 2is to kill as few people as possible. Killing people inDishonoredcauses more “Chaos” in the games. That means more rats and bloodflies, more guards, and most importantly a far less optimistic ending.
For example, in the originalDishonoredkilling few or no NPCs will lead to a “golden age, brought about by your hand” where Corvo Attano stands at Emily Kaldwin’s side as she becomes the EmpressDunwalland the Empire of the Isles needs. The rat plague is overcome, and Emily’s reign is one of relative prosperity. In the Total Chaos ending, Emily does not survive and the Empire begins to crumble.
Dishonored’s multiple endingsare a great feature, but their causes aren’t quite satisfying. to get the best ending the player simply has to make the most morally righteous decision at every turn – in light of the way the endings work there are no times where doing the right thing comes at a high price, or times where brutality is the most expedient option.
On the other side of the spectrum, it’s difficult to enjoy many of the games’ great combat features when the games so heavily incentivize stealth runs. The ending is entirely connected to morality, and completely disconnected from skill. There is little difference between aCorvo or Emilywho deftly and quietly disposes of their enemies and one who blows them up with cannisters of whale oil – both get variants of the undesirable ending.
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Deathloop’s Loophole
Deathloopwill allow players to indulge in all the combat and chaos they like guilt-free – after all, the time loop brings everybody, including the two main characters, back to life. As fun as a stealth run ofDishonoredis, the game’s combat is very satisfying and disappointing to miss out on in a Low Chaos run.Deathloop’s combatseems very similar, but without the need to avoid combat to get what many fans might consider the best ending.
This single change could transform the experience of playingDeathloopwhen compared toDishonoreddespite their apparent similarities. Practicality, not morality, is the name of the game inDeathloop’s world.Arkane developer Dinga Bakaba– who recently hinted thatDishonored 3was not out of the question in the studio’s future – has commented that “because people don’t really die per se, because of the time loop, he [Colt, the protagonist] just goes for the fastest option, which is either sneaking past them, or eliminating them through stealth, or action.”
In other words the best way to play throughDeathloopwill be to be good in terms of skill, not morality. This could allow players far more freedom to explore all of the tools at their disposal without worrying about ruining the story. As more details about the upcoming title are released fans of the studio will get a better idea of what they can expect inDeathloop’s gameplay, but if nothing else by severing morality from the equationDeathloopcould become one of Arkane’s most satisfying stealth shooters to date.
Deathloopreleases on July 03, 2025 for PC and the PlayStation 5.
