In a revealing interview with MinnMax, Andrea Pessino, co-founder of developer Ready at Dawn, disclosed that Sony rejected a sequel to the PlayStation 4 game, *The Order: 1886*. Despite the game's poor critical reception, Pessino emphasized that the proposed sequel would have been "incredible," and the team was prepared to commit fully to its development, driven by a desire to deliver for the fans. Launched in 2015, *The Order: 1886* captivated players with its visually stunning depiction of Victorian London and its unique narrative involving werewolves, but it ultimately received lukewarm reviews from critics.
Pessino expressed confidence in the sequel's potential, stating, "It would have been an incredible sequel, I can tell you that for a fact," though he was limited in what he could share due to not owning the franchise rights. Despite the initial game's critical response, Ready at Dawn pitched the sequel to Sony. Pessino reflected that perhaps it was for the best that Sony declined, as the sequel's development might have placed them in an even more challenging position. "We pitched the sequel to Sony regardless of [the critical reception] and, in a way, it's better that they passed because if we thought we were going to be screwed before, man, with the sequel, we would have signed our life away," he explained.
The development of *The Order: 1886* was fraught with difficulties. Pessino revealed a strained relationship with Sony, which stemmed from the high graphical expectations set early in the project. Sony expected consistent high-quality builds at various milestones, but when Ready at Dawn couldn't meet these standards due to other priorities, payments were withheld. This situation, while standard in the industry for third-party publishers, created a frustrating dynamic between the developer and Sony.
Despite these challenges, Pessino and his team were willing to accept even tougher conditions to create a sequel. "We were going to do it just because we wanted to deliver it to the players but we would have been... Terrible budget, budget would be small, we would have been completely at the mercy of any decisions and things because we had no leverage whatsoever," he said. The team's desire to redeem the franchise and build upon the solid groundwork laid by the original game was strong, but they lacked the negotiating power for a favorable contract.
*The Order: 1886* ended on a cliffhanger, leaving fans eager for a continuation. However, with Ready at Dawn's closure by owner Meta in 2024, hopes for a sequel have been extinguished. In IGN's review, which scored the game a 6/10, it was noted that while the game was a "stylish adventure," it prioritized cinematic polish over gameplay freedom, which contributed to its mixed reception.
