Pre-orders for "Dishonored 2" have already begun with some retailers indicating that the upcoming stealth-based action-adventure game will come out in 2016. This detail, of course, directly contradicts previous rumors suggesting that the game's release has been moved to 2017.

Originally, "Dishonored 2" was scheduled to come out sometime in spring of 2016. However, in late November, various sources reported that the launch of the game has been delayed by developer and publisher Arkane Studios and Bethesda Softworks.

According to Parent Herald, the two companies reportedly made the decision in order to avoid the other major titles that are also slated to come out during the same period. Apparently, both Arkane Studios and Bethesda Softworks want to steer clear from a head-to-head competition with these titles by releasing "Dishonored 2" in 2017.

However, it seems this report and others like it were only based on rumors and speculations. As noted by Youth Health Magazine, neither Bethesda Softworks nor Arkane Studios has released a statement to confirm the delay or discuss the game's development progress. This strongly suggests that the two companies are still targeting 2016 for the official launch of "Dishonored 2."

Aside from the lack of an official confirmation from developers, another piece of evidence that points to the game's on-schedule release is its pre-order details. Over at Amazon, "Dishonored 2" is listed with a pre-order price of $59.96. According to the product's description, those who will pre-order the game will receive it once it ships out on December 30, 2016.

So, until the developers of the game release a formal announcement regarding the launch of "Dishonored 2," gamers can still expect to see it sometime in spring of next year and not in 2017. The game will be available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows platforms.

As previously revealed by the developers, the second installment in the "Dishonored" series will allow players to take on the role of either the main protagonist Corvo Attano or the princess Emily Kaldwin. They can also finish the entire game without killing their enemies by heavily relying on stealth movements and actions.