Sony Rejects The Order: 1886 Sequel Over Reviews, Developer Claims

Sony reportedly declined a sequel to the PlayStation 4 game *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 poor reviews, Ready at Dawn was eager to create an "incredible" sequel, driven by a passion to deliver more to the players. *The Order: 1886*, released in 2015, was an action-packed title set in Victorian London, featuring werewolves and boasting some of the best graphics of its generation. However, it received middling reviews from critics.

"It would have been an incredible sequel, I can tell you that for a fact," Pessino stated, though he was limited in what he could share due to not owning the franchise rights. He explained that Ready at Dawn pitched the sequel to Sony, despite the original's reception, and felt that Sony's decision to pass might have been for the best. "We would have signed our life away," he admitted, highlighting the dire situation they would have faced with a sequel.

Pessino also shed light on the challenging relationship Ready at Dawn had with Sony during the development of the original game. The team was forced to cut numerous elements to meet deadlines, resulting in *The Order: 1886* being released before it was fully ready. Sony's expectations for graphical fidelity, based on early pitches and reveals, led to withheld payments when Ready at Dawn couldn't maintain those standards due to other priorities.

Despite these challenges being standard in the industry, Pessino described the relationship as frustrating. He noted that Ready at Dawn was willing to accept even worse conditions to make a sequel, driven by a desire to redeem the franchise. "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 team was not in a position to negotiate a favorable contract, leaving them vulnerable to Sony's terms. Yet, they were ready to take the risk because they believed in the potential of the franchise. "All of the groundwork was really, really good, I can tell you that for a fact. There was so much there that just needed to be built on," Pessino emphasized.

*The Order: 1886* ended on a cliffhanger, leaving fans eager for a sequel. However, with Ready at Dawn being shut down by its owner, Meta, in 2024, those hopes have been dashed. In IGN's 6/10 review, the game was described as "Though a stylish adventure, *The Order: 1886* emphasizes its cinematic polish at the crippling cost of gameplay freedom."