Andrea Pessino, co-founder of developer Ready at Dawn, has revealed that Sony declined a sequel to the PlayStation 4 game, *The Order: 1886*, due to its underwhelming critical reception. The original game, launched in 2015, was an action-packed adventure set in Victorian London, featuring werewolves and boasting some of the most visually impressive graphics of its time. Despite this, *The Order: 1886* received mixed reviews from critics.
Pessino expressed that the proposed sequel would have been "incredible," and the team at Ready at Dawn was eager to develop it, even if it meant signing away their rights to the franchise. "We pitched the sequel to Sony regardless of the critical reception," Pessino stated, acknowledging the difficulties they faced during the development of the original game. The relationship with Sony was fraught with challenges, including having to cut numerous elements to meet deadlines, which ultimately led to the game being released prematurely.
Sony's expectations were high due to the game's initial graphical showcases, and when Ready at Dawn couldn't maintain those standards at certain development milestones, payments were withheld. This situation, while standard in the industry, contributed to the strained relationship between the developer and Sony. Despite these challenges, Pessino indicated that Ready at Dawn was willing to accept even worse terms to bring a sequel to life, purely out of a desire to deliver more to the fans.
"We were going to do it just because we wanted to deliver it to the players," Pessino explained, highlighting the dire financial and contractual situation they would have faced. "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 sequel. However, with Ready at Dawn's closure by owner Meta in 2024, those hopes have been extinguished. In IGN's review, *The Order: 1886* was described as a "stylish adventure" that sacrificed gameplay freedom for cinematic polish, earning a score of 6/10.
