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. Despite this, Pessino claims Ready at Dawn pitched a compelling sequel, even stating they would have accepted unfavorable terms to create it for the fans.

In an interview with MinnMax, Pessino described the proposed sequel as "incredible," but remained tight-lipped on specifics due to lacking franchise ownership. He highlighted the challenging relationship with Sony during the original game's development, forcing compromises and an ultimately rushed release. The initial stunning visuals, while impressive, created unrealistic expectations regarding consistent build quality throughout development. This, coupled with withheld payments due to prioritization of other development aspects, led to a strained partnership.

Pessino clarified that while such practices are common amongst third-party publishers, the situation with Sony was particularly frustrating. Despite this, the team was eager to pursue a sequel, even under less than ideal circumstances. Pessino explained they would have accepted a "terrible budget" and limited negotiation power, solely driven by the desire to deliver a satisfying experience and redeem the franchise. He emphasized the strong foundation laid in the first game, believing a sequel could have built upon its strengths.

The Order: 1886, released in 2015, ended 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, scoring the game a 6/10, summarized the issue: "Though a stylish adventure, The Order: 1886 emphasizes its cinematic polish at the crippling cost of gameplay freedom." The rejection of the sequel, ten years later, leaves a lingering sense of what could have been.