Dishonored Creators Share Love for Loading Screens and Game Secrets

In a recent streaming session, Raphaël Colantonio, the co-creative director behind the beloved Dishonored series, brought together some of his Arkane colleagues for a fun playthrough. This nostalgic journey through the game has led to some fascinating revelations, including the studio’s early involvement with projects like Thief 4 and even a Blade Runner game before they settled on Dishonored.

During a replay of the iconic Lady Boyle’s Last Party level, Colantonio was joined by co-creative director Harvey Smith, lead gameplay programmer Stevan Hird, and level designer Anthony Huso. While navigating through the various loading screens between the mansion’s outdoor spaces and its interiors, Smith took a moment to defend the often-maligned loading screen. “People think it’s better without them,” he said, “but honestly, I enjoy that little pause between areas. It gives you a sense that you’ve left one place behind and entered a new space, and those tips embedded in the world make for great storytelling.”

Colantonio nodded in agreement, reminiscing about that feeling. He was also trying to keep his gameplay skills sharp, often apologizing for his ‘super sloppy’ moves throughout the stream. After 14 years away from the game, it’s understandable that he might be a bit rusty, especially while multitasking with commentary.

As if that wasn’t enough to keep fans interested, the duo also revealed some intriguing concepts that didn’t make it into the final game, like an early idea where Daud would cut off Corvo’s hand—yes, the very hand that grants him his Blink ability! “I was fond of the notion that your marked hand, which is tied to the Outsider, could be a quest item you needed to retrieve,” Smith explained. This concept eventually found its way back into Dishonored 2, where another character uses a mummified hand to gain powers. Nothing ever goes to waste in Arkane’s creative world!

With only a few more levels left to explore, fans are excited about what the team will tackle next. Fingers crossed they dive into the Knife of Dunwall and Brigmore Witches expansions, as those are fan favorites. And who knows? Maybe they’ll even reunite for a playthrough of Prey down the line. Let’s keep the gaming spirit alive!