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

Ready at Dawn, the developer behind the PlayStation 4 title The Order: 1886, revealed that Sony rejected a sequel proposal despite the team's fervent desire to create it. Andrea Pessino, co-founder of Ready at Dawn, shared with MinnMax that they pitched an “incredible” sequel, even willing to accept unfavorable terms, solely to deliver a better experience to players. The original game, released in 2015, depicted werewolves in Victorian London and boasted impressive visuals, but received mixed critical reviews.

Pessino explained that the sequel pitch was submitted regardless of the first game's reception. He believes Sony's rejection was ultimately beneficial, as the strained relationship with Sony during the original game's development would have likely resulted in an even more challenging sequel production. Ready at Dawn faced difficulties meeting Sony's high graphical expectations, particularly regarding milestone submissions, which impacted their payment schedule. While Pessino acknowledges this as a common practice among third-party publishers, it created a frustrating dynamic.

Despite this, the team was prepared to endure less favorable conditions to create a sequel. Pessino stated they were willing to accept a smaller budget and limited negotiation power, driven by a desire to redeem the franchise and build upon the strong foundation already established. He emphasized the significant potential of the sequel's groundwork.

The original The Order: 1886 concluded on a significant cliffhanger, leaving fans yearning for a continuation. However, with Ready at Dawn's closure by parent company Meta in 2024, hopes for a sequel have been extinguished. IGN's review of the original game, scoring it a 6/10, highlighted its cinematic presentation at the expense of gameplay freedom.