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 stated that Ready at Dawn had developed an "incredible" sequel pitch and would have accepted almost any terms to create it for their fans.
Released in 2015, The Order: 1886 was a visually stunning action game set in Victorian London, featuring werewolves. However, its gameplay received mixed reviews, hindering its overall critical success.
Pessino explained that, even knowing the challenges they faced with the original game's development, they still pitched a sequel to Sony. He expressed regret that Sony declined, stating that the difficult relationship with Sony during the first game's production would have been exacerbated in a sequel. The original game's development was hampered by numerous cuts to meet deadlines, resulting in a rushed release.
The initial high-fidelity graphics showcased in early presentations created unrealistic expectations for consistent build quality throughout development. This led to payment disputes when Ready at Dawn prioritized other aspects of development, temporarily compromising graphical fidelity. While Pessino acknowledged this as a common occurrence with third-party publishers, it created a strained relationship with Sony.
Despite this history, Ready at Dawn was willing to endure unfavorable terms to develop the sequel. Pessino highlighted that they lacked leverage and would have accepted a "terrible budget" and limited creative control simply to give fans the closure they craved after the original game's cliffhanger ending. He emphasized the strong foundation laid in the first game, believing a sequel could have built upon it successfully.
Ultimately, the sequel never materialized. Ready at Dawn, owned by Meta, was shut down in 2024, dashing any remaining hopes for a continuation of The Order franchise. IGN's review of the original game summarized its shortcomings, stating, "Though a stylish adventure, The Order: 1886 emphasizes its cinematic polish at the crippling cost of gameplay freedom."
