Ready at Dawn's co-founder, Andrea Pessino, recently revealed that Sony rejected a sequel to their PlayStation 4 title, The Order: 1886, citing the original game's lukewarm critical reception. Despite this, Pessino claims Ready at Dawn pitched a compelling sequel, even expressing a willingness to accept unfavorable terms to deliver it to fans.
In an interview with MinnMax, Pessino described the proposed sequel as "incredible," emphasizing that the team would have sacrificed significantly to create it. The Order: 1886, released in 2015, was praised for its stunning visuals but criticized for its restrictive gameplay. This critical response, Pessino suggests, influenced Sony's decision.
The development of the original game was fraught with challenges, according to Pessino. Ready at Dawn faced difficulties meeting Sony's high graphical expectations, particularly given the initial impressive visuals showcased in early presentations. This led to payment issues and a strained relationship with the publisher. Despite this turbulent experience, the team was eager to pursue a sequel, even under less-than-ideal conditions.
Pessino explained that they lacked the leverage to negotiate a fair contract for a sequel, acknowledging that they would have been at Sony's mercy regarding budget and creative decisions. However, their desire to redeem the franchise and build upon the strong foundation of the first game outweighed these concerns. The original game's cliffhanger ending further fueled fan demand for a continuation.
Unfortunately, those hopes were ultimately extinguished. Ready at Dawn itself was shuttered by its parent company, Meta, in 2024, effectively ending any chance of a sequel. IGN's review of The Order: 1886, scoring it a 6/10, highlighted the game's visually impressive cinematic presentation but criticized its limited gameplay freedom. Ten years later, the possibility of a sequel remains a lost opportunity.
