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

Andrea Pessino, co-founder of Ready at Dawn, revealed that Sony declined a sequel to the PlayStation 4 game, *The Order: 1886*, due to its lukewarm critical reception. Despite the game's stunning visuals and setting in Victorian London, where players battled werewolves, *The Order: 1886* was released in 2015 to mixed reviews. Pessino described the proposed sequel as "incredible," expressing that the team was willing to commit fully to its development for the fans, even if it meant signing unfavorable terms.

"It would have been an incredible sequel, I can tell you that for a fact," Pessino stated, though he couldn't elaborate further due to not owning the franchise rights. He acknowledged the pitch to Sony was made despite the original game's reception, hinting that perhaps it was better Sony passed, given the dire circumstances Ready at Dawn would have faced with a sequel.

The development of *The Order: 1886* was fraught with challenges, as Pessino disclosed a strained relationship with Sony. The high graphical standards set early on led to withheld payments when the studio couldn't maintain them due to other priorities. This situation, while typical in the industry for third-party publishers, resulted in a difficult collaboration, forcing Ready at Dawn to cut content to meet deadlines and release the game prematurely.

Despite the hardships, Pessino and his team were eager to produce a sequel, driven by a desire to deliver for the fans. However, they were aware of the potential for an even tougher budget and less negotiating power. "We were going to do it just because we wanted to deliver it to the players but we would have been... Terrible budget, budget would be small, we would have been completely at the mercy of any decisions and things because we had no leverage whatsoever," he explained. The groundwork laid in the original game held promise, but without the chance to build upon it, the sequel remained a dream.

*The Order: 1886* ended on a cliffhanger, leaving fans hopeful for a continuation that never materialized. With Ready at Dawn being shut down by its owner, Meta, in 2024, those hopes are now definitively dashed. IGN's review of the game scored it a 6/10, noting, "Though a stylish adventure, The Order: 1886 emphasizes its cinematic polish at the crippling cost of gameplay freedom."