Ready at Dawn's co-founder reveals Sony rejected a sequel to The Order: 1886 due to the original's lukewarm critical reception. Andrea Pessino shared with MinnMax that despite the challenging development of the first game and its ultimately middling reviews, Ready at Dawn proposed a compelling sequel to Sony. Pessino stated they were prepared to accept unfavorable terms to create this sequel, driven by a desire to deliver a better experience to players and redeem the franchise.
The original 2015 title, while visually stunning, was criticized for its restrictive gameplay. Pessino explained that the initial high-fidelity graphical showcases set unrealistic expectations for consistent build quality throughout development. This led to payment disputes when Ready at Dawn prioritized other aspects of the game, temporarily compromising graphical fidelity. While acknowledging this as common practice for third-party publishers, Pessino described the resulting relationship with Sony as strained.
Despite this difficult history, Ready at Dawn was willing to endure further challenges to produce a sequel. Pessino emphasized the strong foundation of the original game, highlighting untapped potential for expansion. The abrupt ending of The Order: 1886 left fans yearning for a continuation, a desire now unfulfilled following Ready at Dawn's closure by Meta in 2024.
IGN's review, scoring the game a 6/10, summarized the issue: "Though a stylish adventure, The Order: 1886 emphasizes its cinematic polish at the crippling cost of gameplay freedom." The missed opportunity for a sequel leaves a significant void for fans of the unique Victorian werewolf-hunting action game.
