The Legacy of Stealth Gaming: A Glimpse into Arkane’s Untold Story
The Dishonored series has long been a delight for enthusiasts of stealth gameplay, drawing inspiration from the revered Thief franchise, often hailed as the pinnacle of the genre. A notable connection between these two worlds is the choice of voice actor for Corvo Attano in Dishonored 2—none other than Stephen Russell, the voice behind Thief’s iconic protagonist, Garrett. This casting decision underscores the deep-rooted ties between the two franchises.
Interestingly, before the inception of Dishonored, Arkane Studios found itself on the brink of creating a new entry in the Thief series. Bethesda initially approached Arkane with the vision of developing Thief 4, a revelation shared during a recent playthrough of Dishonored by co-directors Raphael Colantonio and Harvey Smith. Colantonio recounted that the studio was considered the ideal candidate to breathe new life into the Thief franchise, stating, “The proposition was, ‘Hey, we have the Thief franchise and we know the people to make that game, and it’s you’.”
This isn’t a new narrative; Colantonio has revisited this topic multiple times in various discussions, while Smith also reflected on it during a 2025 interview following the closure of Arkane Austin. For those of us who cherish the stealth genre, the idea of an Arkane-crafted Thief game evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing. Smith’s comment, “We had an amazing pitch for Thief,” resonates deeply, leaving fans to ponder the potential that never came to fruition.
Ultimately, Thief 4 did materialize, developed by Eidos Montreal. While it was met with a lukewarm reception—described as fine but not great—the series has since languished in a state of dormancy. A recent attempt at a spiritual successor, Thick as Thieves, was released earlier this month. Although it too has received mixed reviews, there remains hope that it could evolve into a more compelling experience for fans of the genre.
