Why The Order: 1886 Never Got a Sequel: Ready At Dawn Co-Founder Explains

Despite its stunning visuals and intriguing Victorian London setting, The Order: 1886 remains a standalone title in PlayStation's portfolio. The game, which launched in 2015 as a PS4 exclusive, garnered mixed reviews but left many fans wanting more of its unique alternate history world. Recently, Ready At Dawn co-founder Andrea Pessino shared insights into why the game never received a sequel.

Initial Reception and Commercial Performance

The Order: 1886 debuted to a mixed critical reception. While praised for its groundbreaking graphics and cinematic presentation, the game faced criticism for its short length and limited gameplay mechanics. These factors contributed to lower-than-expected commercial performance, though exact sales figures were never publicly disclosed.

Development Challenges

According to Pessino, creating The Order: 1886 was an ambitious undertaking for Ready At Dawn. The studio invested significant resources in developing proprietary technology and creating the game's highly detailed world. The development process was particularly challenging as the team aimed to push the boundaries of what was possible on the PS4 hardware at the time.

The Business Reality

The decision not to pursue a sequel wasn't solely based on the game's reception. Pessino explained that various business factors came into play, including:

• The changing landscape of console gaming and evolving player expectations
• The substantial investment required to develop a sequel with updated technology
• Strategic decisions regarding studio resources and future projects

Legacy and Future Possibilities

While The Order: 1886 may not have received a direct sequel, its technological achievements and world-building have left a lasting impact on the gaming industry. The game demonstrated what was possible in terms of graphical fidelity and cinematic storytelling on console hardware.

Ready At Dawn's Evolution

Following The Order: 1886, Ready At Dawn shifted its focus to different projects, including VR games like Lone Echo. The studio was later acquired by Oculus Studios (now part of Meta), marking a significant change in direction from console game development.

The story of The Order: 1886 serves as an interesting case study in game development, showing how even technically impressive games with unique settings sometimes fail to spawn franchises despite having passionate fans and creative potential.