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

Sony reportedly declined a sequel to the PlayStation 4 game *The Order: 1886* due to its underwhelming critical reception, according to Andrea Pessino, co-founder of the game's developer, Ready at Dawn. Pessino shared with MinnMax that despite the lukewarm response to the original game, Ready at Dawn was eager to develop a sequel they believed would be "incredible." The original title, released in 2015, immersed players in a Victorian London setting filled with werewolves, and was noted for its stunning graphics but criticized for its gameplay.

Pessino expressed strong confidence in the potential of the sequel, stating, "It would have been an incredible sequel, I can tell you that for a fact," although he was limited in what he could disclose due to not owning the franchise rights. Despite the poor reception of the first game, Ready at Dawn pitched the sequel to Sony, but Sony passed on the opportunity. Pessino noted that, in hindsight, this rejection might have been for the best, as the conditions for developing the sequel would have been even more challenging.

The development of *The Order: 1886* was fraught with difficulties, as Pessino explained. Ready at Dawn had a strained relationship with Sony, which stemmed from high graphical expectations set by early game reveals. Sony expected these standards to be maintained throughout development, and when Ready at Dawn couldn't meet these milestones due to prioritizing other aspects, payments were withheld. This situation, while common in the industry with third-party publishers, strained the relationship between Ready at Dawn and Sony.

Despite these challenges, Ready at Dawn was willing to accept even less favorable terms for the sequel, driven by a desire to fulfill the potential of the franchise and satisfy its fans. Pessino highlighted the team's precarious position, saying, "We were not in a position to negotiate a reasonable contract; they could have done whatever. But we would've taken it because we wanted a chance to redeem the franchise."

The original game ended on a cliffhanger, leaving fans hopeful for a continuation that never came. With Ready at Dawn being shut down by its owner Meta in 2024, those hopes have now been extinguished. In IGN's review, which scored the game a 6/10, they noted, "Though a stylish adventure, *The Order: 1886* emphasizes its cinematic polish at the crippling cost of gameplay freedom."