Sony Rejects The Order: 1886 Sequel Over Reviews, Developer Claims

Andrea Pessino, co-founder of Ready at Dawn, revealed that Sony declined a sequel to the PlayStation 4 game *The Order: 1886* due to its lukewarm reception from critics. Despite this, Pessino expressed that Ready at Dawn was passionate about creating an "incredible" follow-up, stating they were willing to "sign their life away" just to bring it to fans. Released in 2015, *The Order: 1886* was an action-packed title set in Victorian London, grappling with werewolves and boasting stunning visuals, yet it garnered mixed reviews.

Pessino emphasized the sequel's potential, saying, "It would have been an incredible sequel, I can tell you that for a fact," though he couldn't elaborate much due to not owning the franchise rights. He noted that despite the critical response, they pitched the sequel to Sony, suggesting it might have been for the best that it was rejected, considering the already challenging circumstances during the original game's development.

The development of *The Order: 1886* was fraught with difficulties, according to Pessino. Ready at Dawn had a strained relationship with Sony, facing pressure to meet graphical benchmarks set by early pitches. This led to budget constraints and the need to cut numerous elements to meet deadlines, resulting in the game being released prematurely. Pessino explained that Sony withheld payments when the team couldn't maintain the expected graphical quality at certain development milestones, which is standard practice but strained their relationship further.

Despite these challenges, Ready at Dawn was prepared to take on even harsher conditions to develop the sequel, driven by a desire to deliver for the players. Pessino admitted the team would have faced a "terrible budget" and had "no leverage" in negotiations, but they were willing to accept these terms to "redeem the franchise." He highlighted the strong groundwork laid in the original game, which he believed deserved further development.

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