On May 13, 2026, Bethesda and Lenovo ran one of the most talked-about PC game giveaways of the year — offering Dishonored 2, one of the most critically acclaimed stealth-action games ever made, completely free on Steam. If you missed it, you are not alone: the giveaway trended at Breakout levels on Google globally, with search interest spiking 1,650% in the days leading up to and following the promotion. Here is the complete story of what happened, what the game is worth, and where to find the next legitimate free game giveaway before it disappears.
What Was the Dishonored 2 Free Steam Giveaway?
The giveaway was a joint promotion between Bethesda Softworks and Lenovo, distributed through the Gamesplanet platform. To claim a free Steam key, users needed to create a free Lenovo account and visit the promotional page on May 13, 2026 at 12 p.m. ET. Codes were limited and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis — and based on the volume of search traffic the event generated, demand significantly exceeded available supply.
The promotion was time-limited and is now closed. As of late May 2026, Bethesda and Lenovo have not announced an extension or additional code release. If you did not claim your code on the day, the offer is over — but there are legitimate ways to get the game at low or no cost (more on that below).
Why Dishonored 2 Is Still Worth Getting in 2026
Released in 2016 by Arkane Studios and still celebrated by critics today, Dishonored 2 holds an 88/100 on Metacritic and regularly appears on "best PC games ever" lists a decade after launch. It is a first-person stealth-action game set in the beautifully imagined city of Karnaca, playable as either Corvo Attano (returning from the original game) or Emily Kaldwin, each with completely different supernatural powers and playstyles.
The game is particularly celebrated for its level design. The Clockwork Mansion — a mechanical building that physically rearranges itself around the player — is widely considered one of the finest single levels in video game history. The Crack in the Slab level, which allows players to travel between past and present versions of the same location using a special ability, is equally revered. At its current Steam price of $39.99, it is considered excellent value. When it is free, it is an unmissable addition to any PC gaming library.
If you are building a PC gaming setup and looking at the broader ecosystem of tools and hardware alongside game deals, our breakdown of NVIDIA's latest on-device AI chips is worth reading — the same hardware driving AI performance is transforming PC gaming capability in 2026.
Can You Still Get Dishonored 2 for Free After the Giveaway Ended?
The official Bethesda-Lenovo promotion has ended, but there are legitimate options for getting Dishonored 2 at minimal cost:
Steam sales: Dishonored 2 regularly goes on sale during Steam's major sale events (Summer Sale, Autumn Sale, Winter Sale) for 75–80% off — bringing the price to $8–$10. Set a price alert on SteamDB or IsThereAnyDeal to be notified when it drops.
Humble Bundle: Bethesda games appear in Humble Bundle packages periodically. The Dishonored franchise has been bundled before and will likely appear again.
Xbox Game Pass (PC): Bethesda titles rotate through Xbox Game Pass for PC. Dishonored 2 has been available on Game Pass previously — check the current library, as it may be available again.
GOG.com: GOG occasionally runs DRM-free giveaways of older titles. Dishonored 2 has not yet appeared as a GOG giveaway, but it is worth watching.
Where to Find the Next Legitimate Free Game Giveaway
Free game giveaways happen more frequently than most players realize. Here are the most reliable sources to monitor in 2026:
Epic Games Store: Epic gives away one or more free games every single week — this is the most consistent source of free PC games available. The games rotate Thursday to Thursday and include major titles regularly. Visit store.epicgames.com/en-US/free-games weekly.
Amazon Prime Gaming: Prime members receive free games monthly as part of their subscription. The library includes indie gems and occasionally AAA titles. Access through gaming.amazon.com with any Prime membership.
GOG.com giveaways: GOG's promotional giveaways are time-limited and easy to miss. Follow their social channels or set up an alert via SteamDB's companion tools.
Gamesplanet promotions: The same platform that distributed the Dishonored 2 codes runs periodic brand-partnership giveaways. The Lenovo-Bethesda promotion was one of several they have hosted — worth bookmarking and checking monthly.
For broader tech deals and hardware news alongside gaming, following where Big Tech is investing in 2026 helps predict which platforms will be running the most aggressive promotional campaigns in the months ahead.
What This Means for You
If you missed the Dishonored 2 giveaway, the game is worth buying at its next deep discount — and deep discounts on Bethesda titles happen reliably two to three times per year. Set a SteamDB price alert today and you will not miss it again. More importantly, the lesson from this giveaway is the value of monitoring Epic Games Store weekly and Amazon Prime Gaming monthly — between those two sources alone, you can accumulate a substantial game library at zero cost over the course of a year.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is Dishonored 2 still free on Steam in 2026?
A: No. The Bethesda and Lenovo Dishonored 2 free Steam giveaway ran on May 13, 2026 and has now ended. Codes were limited and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis through Gamesplanet. The promotion is closed and no extension has been announced.
Q: How do I get Dishonored 2 for free or cheap now that the giveaway is over?
A: Your best options are: (1) Wait for a Steam sale — Dishonored 2 regularly discounts 75–80% during major sale events. (2) Check Xbox Game Pass for PC, where Bethesda titles rotate through regularly. (3) Monitor Humble Bundle for Bethesda game packages. Set a price alert on IsThereAnyDeal.com to be notified automatically.
Q: Is Dishonored 2 worth buying at full price in 2026?
A: Yes. At $39.99, Dishonored 2 offers 20–30 hours of main-story gameplay with significant replayability across two characters and multiple playstyles. It holds an 88/100 on Metacritic and is consistently recommended as one of the best first-person stealth games ever made. At sale price ($8–$10), it is exceptional value.
Q: Where can I find free Steam games in 2026?
A: The Epic Games Store gives away free games every week — the most consistent source available. Amazon Prime Gaming offers monthly free games with any Prime subscription. GOG.com and Gamesplanet run periodic promotions. Reddit's r/GameDeals community aggregates all active giveaways in real time.
Q: Will Bethesda do another free game giveaway in 2026?
A: Bethesda has run multiple promotional giveaways historically, typically tied to hardware partner campaigns (like the Lenovo partnership for Dishonored 2). While no specific upcoming giveaways have been announced, Bethesda's partnership model makes future promotions likely. Follow Gamesplanet and Bethesda's official social accounts to be notified first.
Missing a one-day giveaway is frustrating — but it is rarely the last opportunity. The PC gaming ecosystem in 2026 is more generous with free and deeply discounted titles than at any point in its history. The players who benefit most are the ones who know where to look and check regularly.
