Sony Rejects The Order: 1886 Sequel Over Poor Reviews, Developer Confirms

In a revealing interview with MinnMax, Andrea Pessino, co-founder of Ready at Dawn, disclosed that Sony rejected a sequel to the PlayStation 4 game *The Order: 1886* due to its lukewarm critical reception. Despite the game's stunning visuals, which made it one of the best-looking titles of its generation, *The Order: 1886* launched in 2015 to mixed reviews. The game, set in a Victorian London teeming with werewolves, left fans on a cliffhanger, fueling hopes for a follow-up.

Pessino expressed that the proposed sequel would have been "incredible," emphasizing the team's passion to deliver it for the fans. "We pitched the sequel to Sony regardless of [the critical reception] and, in a way, it's better that they passed because if we thought we were going to be screwed before, man, with the sequel, we would have signed our life away," he stated. However, he couldn't elaborate further due to not owning the franchise rights.

The development of the original game was fraught with challenges, as Ready at Dawn had a strained relationship with Sony. Pessino explained that Sony's expectations for graphical fidelity, set by early pitches and reveals, led to withheld payments when the team couldn't meet those standards at certain milestones. This situation, while standard in the industry for third-party publishers, created a tense dynamic between the developer and Sony.

Despite these difficulties, Ready at Dawn was willing to accept even harsher conditions to create a sequel. "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," Pessino admitted. The team's desire to redeem the franchise was strong, but they lacked the negotiating power for a favorable contract.

Unfortunately, the hopes of fans for a sequel were dashed when Ready at Dawn was shut down by its owner, Meta, in 2024. In IGN's review, *The Order: 1886* received a 6/10, with the critique noting, "Though a stylish adventure, The Order: 1886 emphasizes its cinematic polish at the crippling cost of gameplay freedom."