The Unfulfilled Potential of The Order: 1886 and the Death of Ready At Dawn

When The Order: 1886 was released in 2015, it was met with a mixed reception. Players praised its display of the PS4’s hardware capabilities. The game had stunning visuals and a great setting but fell short in its gameplay and story. 

Despite this, the game’s unique steampunk vision of an alternate London is something that fans wanted more of. The game’s developer, Ready At Dawn, had plans for a sequel that could have done that. But with the recent closure of Ready At Dawn by Meta, those plans will never see the light of day. 

1. The Story Had Unfinished Business

One of the reasons why a sequel to The Order: 1886 could have been great lies in the lessons learned from the original. The narrative depth of The Order: 1886 was something that could have been expanded upon in a sequel.

The original game ended on a cliffhanger, leaving many plot threads unresolved. The world of The Order was rich with potential for further storytelling by exploring the alternate history of London. 

The story built up a world with potential for a deep lore that barely scratched the surface. A sequel could have shown us more of the Knights of the Round Table’s battle against half-breeds like werewolves and vampires.

The first game laid the groundwork for an epic tale, but it was never fully realized. A sequel would have provided the perfect opportunity to complete the story and explore the characters further

2. Potential for Gameplay Improvements

One of the most compelling reasons for a sequel is the potential for improved gameplay. The original The Order: 1886 was often criticized for its lack of innovation in gameplay mechanics. According to industry insider Shinobi602 on X (formerly Twitter), Ready At Dawn had plans to address these issues in the sequel.

From what I knew, they had awesome plans in place for a sequel to The Order before Meta got them. With the engine already in place (which took up a ton of time and resources in the first one), they were going to put everything into the gameplay experience next. I bet we could…

— Shinobi602 (@shinobi602) August 7, 2024

The developers were reportedly working on a new engine that would have allowed them to improve upon the criticized aspects of the original greatly. This focus on gameplay improvement could have made a sequel a dramatic leap forward, much like the transition from the original Assassin’s Creed to its critically acclaimed sequel, Assassin’s Creed II.

3. A Second Chance at Redemption

The final reason a sequel to The Order: 1886 could have been great is the potential for the franchise to evolve into a major IP for Sony. The Order: 1886 was met with mixed reviews upon release, largely due to its short length and lackluster gameplay.

Anyone else think The Order: 1886 deserves another chance?
by inPS5

Ready At Dawn was a talented studio, known for work on titles like God of War: Chains of Olympus and Daxter. The team had the skills to create. A more polished sequel, focused on gameplay improvements and narrative depth, could have redeemed the brand.

Unfortunately, with Meta’s recent closure of the studio, it seems this potential will never be realized. The lack of a sequel is a missed opportunity not just for Ready At Dawn but also for Sony, which still holds the rights to the IP.

The Order: 1886 may not have been a commercial or critical success, but it laid the groundwork for a franchise that could have been something truly special. 

In hindsight, The Order: 1886 may have been a flawed gem, but it was a gem nonetheless. The chance to see what could have been will remain a ‘what could’ve been.’ And the sad part is that it won’t be the first or the last.

Would you have played the sequel had it survived? Let us know in the comments below!