Andrea Pessino, co-founder of Ready at Dawn, revealed that Sony declined a sequel to the PlayStation 4 game *The Order: 1886* due to its lackluster critical reception. Despite this, Pessino expressed that the team at Ready at Dawn was incredibly passionate about the project and had pitched an "incredible" sequel. He emphasized their willingness to "sign their life away" just to bring the sequel to life for the fans. *The Order: 1886*, released in 2015, was an action game set in Victorian London with werewolves, and while it was praised for its stunning visuals, it received mixed reviews from critics.
Pessino admitted that although he couldn't disclose much about the sequel due to not owning the franchise rights, he firmly believed it would have been a remarkable follow-up. The development of the original game was fraught with challenges, including a strained relationship with Sony. Ready at Dawn had to make significant cuts to meet deadlines, resulting in the game being released prematurely. Sony's expectations were set high by the initial graphical fidelity shown in pitches and reveals, leading to withheld payments when Ready at Dawn couldn't maintain those standards throughout development due to other priorities.
Despite these difficulties, Pessino explained that the team was willing to accept a sequel under even tougher conditions, driven by their desire to deliver a better experience for the players. He acknowledged the precarious position they were in, with little leverage to negotiate a favorable contract, yet they were prepared to take the risk to redeem the franchise. The groundwork laid in the original game was strong, and there was much potential to build upon.
The game ended on a cliffhanger, leaving fans eager for a sequel. However, a decade later, those hopes were extinguished with Ready at Dawn's closure by its owner, Meta, in 2024. IGN's review of *The Order: 1886* gave it a 6/10, noting that while the game was a stylish adventure, its emphasis on cinematic polish came at the expense of gameplay freedom.
