Sony Rejects The Order: 1886 Sequel Over Criticism, Developer Reveals

Sony reportedly declined a sequel to the PlayStation 4 title *The Order: 1886* due to its lukewarm critical reception, according to Andrea Pessino, co-founder of the game's developer, Ready at Dawn. In a conversation with MinnMax, Pessino revealed that despite the game's initial poor reviews, Ready at Dawn was passionate about creating a sequel, which he described as "incredible." He expressed the team's willingness to commit fully to the project, stating they would have "signed [their] life away" just to give fans the continuation they desired. *The Order: 1886*, released in 2015, was an action game set in Victorian London and featured werewolves, and while it was lauded for its stunning graphics, it fell short in the eyes of many critics.

Pessino emphasized the potential of the sequel, acknowledging that he couldn't delve into details because Ready at Dawn does not own the franchise rights. He mentioned that the original game's development was fraught with challenges, including a strained relationship with Sony. The team had to make significant cuts to meet deadlines, ultimately releasing the game before it was fully ready. Sony's expectations for the game's graphical quality, set by early pitches and reveals, led to withheld payments when Ready at Dawn couldn't consistently meet those standards due to other priorities.

Despite the industry standard nature of these practices with third-party publishers, it resulted in a tense dynamic between Ready at Dawn and Sony. Pessino admitted that the team was prepared to accept even tougher conditions to produce a sequel, driven by their desire to deliver for the fans. He highlighted the dire financial situation they would have faced, with a "terrible budget" and no leverage to negotiate a fair contract, yet they were willing to proceed to redeem the franchise. The groundwork laid in the original game was strong, and Pessino believed there was much potential to build upon.

The original game ended on a cliffhanger, leaving fans eager for a follow-up. However, with Ready at Dawn's closure by its owner Meta in 2024, hopes for a sequel have been extinguished. In IGN's review, which scored the game a 6/10, it was noted that while *The Order: 1886* was a visually impressive adventure, its focus on cinematic polish came at the expense of gameplay freedom.