Before Dishonored was made, Arkane Studios was reportedly working on ideas for a new Thief game and a Blade Runner adaptation under Bethesda.
According to Dishonored creators Raphaël Colantonio and Harvey Smith, both projects were cancelled after the rights could not be secured.
Bethesda told Arkane to turn those ideas into a new original game instead of discarding the work.
That game became Dishonored.
The final product still shows the influence: stealth and level design inspired by Thief, and a dark industrial world with clear Blade Runner vibes.
In the end, the cancelled projects helped Arkane create one of the most loved immersive sims of its generation.