Ready at Dawn's co-founder, Andrea Pessino, recently revealed that Sony rejected a sequel to their PlayStation 4 title, The Order: 1886, citing the original game's lukewarm critical reception. Speaking with MinnMax, Pessino described the proposed sequel as "incredible," stating that the team would have accepted almost any terms to create it for their fans.

Despite boasting impressive visuals for its time, The Order: 1886, a Victorian-era werewolf action game released in 2015, received mixed reviews, primarily criticizing its limited gameplay. Pessino confirmed that Ready at Dawn pitched a sequel to Sony regardless of this reception, highlighting the team's desire to rectify the shortcomings of the first game. He emphasized that the sequel's foundation was strong and brimming with untapped potential.

The development of the original game was fraught with challenges, according to Pessino. A strained relationship with Sony arose from the high graphical expectations set by the game's initial marketing, coupled with payment discrepancies when Ready at Dawn had to prioritize other aspects of development, temporarily compromising visual fidelity. While Pessino acknowledged that this is somewhat common practice with third-party publishers, it created a frustrating dynamic.

Despite this difficult experience, Pessino stated that Ready at Dawn would have accepted an unfavorable contract for a sequel, prioritizing fan satisfaction over financial concerns. He explained that they lacked leverage and would have been entirely at Sony's mercy regarding budget and creative decisions. Their primary motivation was to redeem the franchise and build upon the strong foundation laid by the first game.

The original The Order: 1886 concluded on a significant cliffhanger, fueling fan demand for a continuation. However, with Ready at Dawn's closure by parent company Meta in 2024, those hopes are now extinguished. IGN's review of the original game, scoring it a 6/10, summarized the issue succinctly: "Though a stylish adventure, The Order: 1886 emphasizes its cinematic polish at the crippling cost of gameplay freedom."