In a revealing interview with MinnMax, Andrea Pessino, co-founder of Ready at Dawn, disclosed that Sony declined a sequel to the PlayStation 4 game, The Order: 1886, primarily due to its lukewarm critical reception. Launched in 2015, The Order: 1886 captivated players with its stunning visuals and a unique storyline set in Victorian London, battling werewolves. Despite its visual allure, the game garnered mixed reviews, which ultimately influenced Sony's decision against a sequel.
Pessino expressed strong confidence in the sequel's potential, describing it as "incredible" and lamenting the lost opportunity to expand on the groundwork laid by the original game. He noted that Ready at Dawn was willing to take significant risks to deliver a sequel to fans, despite the challenging relationship with Sony during the development of the first game. The team faced stringent deadlines and had to cut numerous elements, leading to a release that, according to Pessino, came before the game was fully ready.
The development of The Order: 1886 was fraught with tension over graphical standards. Sony expected the game to maintain the high visual quality shown in early pitches, but when Ready at Dawn couldn't consistently meet these standards due to other priorities, payments were withheld. This situation, while common in the industry, strained the relationship between the developer and Sony.
Despite these challenges, Pessino revealed that Ready at Dawn was prepared to accept a less favorable deal for a sequel, driven by a desire to redeem the franchise and build on its foundation. However, the lack of leverage meant they were at the mercy of Sony's terms, which ultimately did not materialize into a sequel.
The Order: 1886 ended on a cliffhanger, leaving fans eager for more, but hopes for a sequel were dashed when Ready at Dawn was shut down by its owner, Meta, in 2024. In our review, IGN gave The Order: 1886 a score of 6/10, criticizing the game for prioritizing cinematic polish over gameplay freedom, a sentiment that echoed across other critiques.
