Sony Turned Down The Order: 1886 Sequel Due to Critical Reception, Dev Says

Ready at Dawn's co-founder reveals Sony rejected a sequel to The Order: 1886 due to the original game'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 pitched a compelling sequel to Sony.

Pessino stated the proposed sequel was "incredible," and the team was prepared to accept unfavorable terms just to deliver it to fans. He cited a difficult relationship with Sony during the original game's production, highlighting the pressure to maintain the high graphical fidelity showcased in early reveals, even when budget constraints and deadlines forced compromises. This led to payment delays and a strained working relationship.

Despite the less-than-ideal circumstances, Pessino emphasized that Ready at Dawn was willing to endure even worse conditions to create a sequel. They were prepared to accept a meager budget and limited creative control, prioritizing the opportunity to redeem the franchise and build upon the strong foundation laid by the first game. The original game ended on a significant cliffhanger, leaving fans yearning for a continuation.

Unfortunately, those hopes were ultimately dashed. Ready at Dawn itself was shut down by parent company Meta in 2024, effectively ending any chance of a sequel. IGN's review of the original game, scoring it a 6/10, criticized its emphasis on cinematic presentation at the expense of gameplay freedom. The rejection of the sequel, coupled with the studio's closure, leaves The Order: 1886 with an unfinished story.