Ready at Dawn's co-founder, Andrea Pessino, recently revealed that Sony rejected a proposed sequel to their PlayStation 4 title, The Order: 1886, citing the original game's underwhelming critical reception. Despite this, Pessino claims Ready at Dawn pitched a compelling sequel, even expressing a willingness to accept unfavorable terms to deliver it to fans.
In an interview with MinnMax, Pessino described the envisioned sequel as "incredible," emphasizing the team's dedication to the project. He acknowledged the challenges faced during the development of the original game, including a strained relationship with Sony and significant content cuts to meet deadlines. The Order: 1886, released in 2015, boasted impressive visuals but received mixed reviews, primarily criticizing its limited gameplay.
The initial high-fidelity visuals of the game's early showcases set unrealistic expectations for consistent build quality throughout development, according to Pessino. This led to payment disputes when Ready at Dawn prioritized other aspects, temporarily compromising the graphical standards. While Pessino notes that this is common practice with third-party publishers, it created friction with Sony.
Despite this difficult experience, Ready at Dawn was prepared to endure even worse conditions to create a sequel. Pessino stated they would have accepted a "terrible budget" and limited negotiating power, driven solely by their desire to provide closure for fans and expand upon the established foundation. The original game ended on a significant cliffhanger, leaving players yearning for a continuation.
Unfortunately, those hopes were ultimately extinguished. Ready at Dawn was subsequently shut down by its parent company, Meta, in 2024, effectively ending any chance of a sequel. IGN's review of The Order: 1886, scoring it a 6/10, summarized the game as a "stylish adventure" hampered by a lack of gameplay freedom.
