Sony Turned Down The Order: 1886 Sequel Due to Critical Reception, Dev Says

Ready at Dawn's co-founder, Andrea Pessino, recently revealed that Sony rejected a proposed sequel to their PlayStation 4 title, The Order: 1886, citing the original game's lukewarm critical reception. Despite this, Pessino claims Ready at Dawn pitched a compelling sequel, stating they would have accepted almost any terms to create it for their fans.

The 2015 release of The Order: 1886, a Victorian-era werewolf action game, was visually stunning but received mixed reviews, primarily criticizing its gameplay limitations. Pessino confirmed the sequel's potential, though he couldn't elaborate due to lacking franchise ownership. He emphasized their willingness to endure unfavorable conditions, stating they would have "signed [their] life away" for the opportunity.

Pessino detailed a challenging relationship with Sony during the original game's development. Meeting Sony's high graphical expectations, initially set by impressive early demos, proved difficult. Financial difficulties arose when Ready at Dawn prioritized other aspects of development, temporarily compromising graphical fidelity, leading to payment delays. Although Pessino acknowledged this as standard practice for third-party publishers, it created tension.

Despite this strained relationship, the desire to deliver a sequel and redeem the franchise drove Ready at Dawn to propose a follow-up. Pessino described the potential contract as severely disadvantageous, offering little leverage for negotiation. However, the team was prepared to accept these terms due to the strong foundation laid in the first game and the desire to resolve the cliffhanger ending.

Ultimately, the sequel never materialized. Ready at Dawn itself was shuttered by parent company Meta in 2024, extinguishing any remaining hopes for a continuation of The Order series. IGN's original review, scoring the game a 6/10, summarized the issue: "Though a stylish adventure, The Order: 1886 emphasizes its cinematic polish at the crippling cost of gameplay freedom."