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, the studio pitched a compelling sequel to Sony.
Pessino stated the proposed sequel was "incredible," and the team would have accepted unfavorable terms to create it, prioritizing player satisfaction above all else. He explained that the original game's development was fraught with difficulties, including strained relations with Sony and significant content cuts to meet deadlines. The high graphical fidelity showcased in early presentations created unrealistic expectations regarding development milestones, leading to payment disputes when Ready at Dawn prioritized other aspects of development.
While Pessino acknowledged this is a common practice among third-party publishers, the experience left a lasting negative impact on the studio's relationship with Sony. Despite this, the desire to deliver a sequel and redeem the franchise motivated Ready at Dawn to propose a follow-up, even under less-than-ideal circumstances. Pessino highlighted the strong foundation laid in the first game, emphasizing that a sequel had immense potential.
The Order: 1886 concluded on a significant cliffhanger, leaving fans yearning for a continuation. However, with Ready at Dawn's closure by Meta in 2024, those hopes have been extinguished. IGN's review of the original game, scoring it a 6/10, criticized its prioritization of visual fidelity over gameplay freedom. The rejection of the sequel, therefore, marks a missed opportunity for both the studio and fans alike.
