Arkane's Dishonored always felt like a secret Thief sequel, and that's because it started life as one

Dishonored began as Arkane’s pitch for Thief 4, with Blade Runner also considered as an alternative.

When both options fell through, Bethesda told Arkane to keep the work and rework it into a new game.

Raphaël Colantonio and Harvey Smith then co-directed the project as Dishonored.

The game’s stealth-heavy design reflects its origins in classic immersive-sim ideas.