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. Pessino shared in an interview with MinnMax that the team was eager to create a sequel, describing it as "incredible" and expressing their willingness to accept tough conditions just to bring it to the fans. *The Order: 1886*, released in 2015, was an action-adventure game set in Victorian London and centered around werewolves. Despite its stunning visuals, it received mixed reviews.

"It would have been an incredible sequel, I can tell you that for a fact," Pessino remarked, although he couldn't delve into specifics due to not owning the franchise rights. He explained that despite the game's reception, Ready at Dawn pitched the sequel to Sony. Pessino admitted that in hindsight, Sony's decision to pass was perhaps for the best, as the sequel would have come with even more challenging conditions for the studio.

During the development of the original game, Ready at Dawn faced a strained relationship with Sony. The developer had to cut numerous elements to meet deadlines and ultimately released *The Order: 1886* before it was fully ready. Pessino noted that Sony's expectations for graphical fidelity were based on early pitches and reveals, which led to withheld payments when the team couldn't meet those standards during development. This, Pessino explained, is typical in the industry but caused significant frustration.

Despite the difficulties, Ready at Dawn was prepared to accept even worse 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 said. The team's desire to redeem the franchise was strong, but they lacked the negotiating power for a fair contract.

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