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, even expressing a willingness to accept unfavorable terms to deliver it to fans.

In an interview with MinnMax, Pessino described the envisioned sequel as "incredible," emphasizing their dedication to the project. He acknowledged the limitations imposed by not owning the franchise rights, preventing him from elaborating further. The original Order: 1886, released in 2015, was lauded for its stunning visuals but received mixed reviews, primarily criticizing its gameplay.

Pessino detailed a challenging development process for the first game, involving significant content cuts to meet deadlines. He explained that Sony's expectations, fueled by the game's impressive initial demos, clashed with the realities of development, leading to payment delays when Ready at Dawn had to prioritize other aspects over maintaining the same high graphical fidelity. While Pessino noted this is common practice with third-party publishers, it created friction between the two companies.

Despite this strained relationship, Ready at Dawn was prepared to endure even less favorable conditions to develop a sequel. Pessino stated they would have accepted a "terrible budget" and limited negotiation power, driven solely by their desire to provide a satisfying conclusion for players and redeem the franchise's potential. He confirmed that substantial groundwork for a sequel existed, ready for expansion.

The original game ended on a significant cliffhanger, leaving fans yearning for a continuation. However, with Ready at Dawn's closure by parent company Meta in 2024, those hopes have been extinguished. IGN's review, scoring the game a 6/10, highlighted its stylistic strengths while criticizing its restrictive gameplay. The missed opportunity for a sequel remains a point of discussion among fans and developers alike.

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