Ready at Dawn, the developer behind the PlayStation 4 title The Order: 1886, revealed that Sony rejected a proposed sequel. Co-founder Andrea Pessino, speaking with MinnMax, stated that despite the original game's mixed critical reception, the team pitched an "incredible" sequel, even willing to accept unfavorable terms to create it for the fans. The Order: 1886, released in 2015, boasted stunning visuals but received middling reviews due to gameplay limitations.
Pessino explained that while they envisioned a compelling sequel, the relationship with Sony during the development of the first game was challenging. Meeting Sony's high graphical expectations, initially set based on early impressive demos, proved difficult. Budgetary constraints and deadlines forced compromises, leading to the release of a game Pessino admits wasn't fully realized. He clarified that while withholding payments due to unmet graphical milestones is standard practice for third-party publishers, it created tension.
Despite this difficult experience, Ready at Dawn was prepared to accept significantly worse terms for a sequel, driven by a desire to deliver a satisfying conclusion to the story and build upon the strong foundation already laid. Pessino emphasized the sequel’s potential, highlighting substantial groundwork that warranted further development. The original game ended on a significant cliffhanger, leaving fans yearning for a continuation.
However, with Ready at Dawn's closure by Meta in 2024, hopes for a sequel to The Order: 1886 are now extinguished. IGN's review of the original game, scoring it a 6/10, highlighted its cinematic presentation but criticized its restrictive gameplay.
