The Order: 1886 Dev Ready at Dawn to Close After VR Stint

Unfortunate, would've liked to have seen an Order sequel since it had some massive potential.

Looking at their entire resume this was a talented and ultimately strange studio. Sorry to the devs and hopefully some find their way back to some SIE studios.

Its a shame, would have loved an order sequel. Shout-out to the great psp games they made.

Such a missing.
Order 1886 was a decent title.
They should have continued making action adventure 3rd person games.

That's too bad. I actually really liked The Order 1886. Sure it had problems but I thought it was a solid first effort and would have loved to see a sequel.

Ghost of Sparta is also my second favorite of the series only behind GOW2. A really great game that was.

Ready at Dawn had some great talent so it's sad to see them go. Hopefully the devs land on their feet elsewhere.

Such a shame. This is one of the downsides started during the PS4 era. If your game didn’t sell millions AND wasn’t critically acclaimed, Sony wasn’t interested in a second chance in the IP or studio. The Order shall sit in the Sony vault til the end of time.

It’s unfortunate that their legacy is just Order 1886 in many people’s eyes. The PSP games they worked on seemed actually pretty fun and well received. I’m surprised they accepted being bought out by Meta in the first place considering how nearly everything gaming they’ve done has flopped. It sucks that talent like this has been constantly thrown to the side this year, and I hope everyone impacted lands on their feet.

Dammit Meta...you had to shut down the Lone Echo/Echo Arena developer? You shut down Echo Arena, say it's because you want Ready at Dawn to focus on one title, then you discontinue them when there's a lack of titles releasing on Quest headsets...

Also, Ready at Dawn made The Order 1886?

A game that absolutely needed a sequel.

Yeah Reality Labs is currently losing Meta about $8 billion a year and total losses are now at $45 billion but Ready at Dawn were actually a decent studio and I would've liked for them to get a shot at an Order sequel so it was a shame Sony didn't buy them instead.

In a weird coincidence I'm just wrapping Lone Echo 2 on PCVR, and was thinking how incredible it is, and really was looking forward to what they do next. That will offcially be there final game, how bittersweet. Thanks for all the years of awesome stuff.

Make The Order 1888. Brother Walfrid as a gun-toting hunk-a-monk.

Not purchasing RAD was one of Sony's biggest missed opportunities of last generation. Unbelievably talented sudio who will never see their full potential.

The Order sucked but Chains Of Olympus, Ghost Of Sparta and Daxter were fantastic this studio did have talent. Was really sad back in the day when Facebook bought them thought it was a waste of their talent sad to see them go😭

That's a shame they were such a good studio. I liked The Order. More importantly Chains of Olympus was great, and I rank Daxter as the best J&D game there is other than J&D1. Much better than ND's sequels.

Meta's been trying to reign in Reality Labs budget recently, and most of what they're blowing it on hasn't actually been related to Quest but pie in the sky endeavors. Quest is said to be exceeding expectations. But the article quote isn't correct about RaD:

"The dev was bought by Meta in 2020 and has created games for Meta Quest headsets since."

The problem is they haven't released anything since Meta bought them. Echo VR was it. Lone Echo 2 was PC-only. I really don't know why they bought them or what they were doing with this studio, but it seemed to be an ignored studio. Kind of weird that killing this little studio will keep them in budget without wider cuts while they're losing billions on directionless R&D though.

@MrMagic I feel like with the ramifications of everything we’ve seen these past 2 years, I don’t really wish for any more acquisitions from any companies. Sure the negative impact on Sony hasn’t been nearly as profound as it’s been on Microsoft or Embracer, but Sony has still closed multiple studios in the 2020s. Independent teams are definitely still struggling also, but corporate security seems like less and less of a safe bet.

Order 1886 was probably my biggest PS disappointment. It looked so good, had a fantastic setting, and didn't play too bad, but every time it got going you were ripped away from the action with interminable cutscenes. Despite that I always wanted to see them take another stab at the series. Unfortunately looks like VR might not be sustainable for gaming. Shame as they are talented.

This example can be utilized as a strong warning for developers...Zucker Bucks run out!

How unfortunate that at the end of the day, those who are heavily affected by these kind of closures are those who are working hard to make games

I loved the order. Feel it was very unfairly treat as it was short and linear

@Sequel I think this has less to do with VR sustainability for gaming and more to do with "RL is spending crazy money on "something" and that "something" doesn't appear to be their headsets nor their software, and poor RaD gets to take the fall because due to the above they haven't actually released any games....at all."

They moved a bunch of AI projects into Reality Labs. $100 says AI is the bottomless money sink. They're convinced they're going to out-OpenAI OpenAI and make the first general purpose intelligent AI. Quest is selling. Their other endeavors aren't. They had 1.8b in revenue last year and 16b in operating costs. I don't think unreleased Lone Echo for Quest 3 measures in that ocean of loss.

Maybe gaming is or isn't sustainable in VR, but in RaD's case, it kind of requires you actually sell a game to make that determination, and under Meta, they haven't. Gorilla Tag sells though so there's that

Not sure what's weirder. They bought a studio 4 years ago then did nothing with them, or that they think closing a tiny studio will fix a budget balance issue that clearly isn't impacted even if they close all their studios.

As a cheap title at discount, I enjoyed The Order. A big misstep was leaving the story so unfinished, as if it was only part 1 in a larger story.

That's fine if you're an established studio who virtually guarantees success, but in this case it was really disappointing. I left me pretty damn unsatisfied when it was over, despite liking it.

@Deoxyr1bose Yeah I wasn't saying they'd have been any better off under Sony but I would've still preferred if Sony had got them back then instead of Meta.

Like everyone else I was hoping for a sequel to The Order 1886. This is really sad but not unexpected. I hope the devs can join some SIE teams cause they are talented for sure.

What a load of bollocks. “We’re not saving money, but we’re trying to stay within budgetary constraints” What a shame. I liked The Order 1886 for what it was; a short single player game with high production values. Yes, it was a bit light on gameplay, but the setting was interesting. I’m getting a bit fed up with this trend of big corporations buying up studios only to close them within a couple of years to deal with ‘budgetary constraints’. If you’re tight on budget, don’t go out and buy more studios.

It's a shame, I really enjoyed their games.

Is that why the order has never came to plus??

I knew the future wasnt bright for them when they went onto VR

@Deljo no? pretty sure sony owns the order ip, not ready at dawn

would love to see sony pick the studio back up , or at least a bunch of the team up. a ready at dawn , sony reunion would be nice.

Obviously a real shame they had to get bought by a company that was bound to shut them down eventually.

@twitchtvpat ah fair enough... always expected to come on there, thought I'd cracked it 🤣

I was one of the few that rated the order. Loved the setting, graphics and the fact it didn’t feel bloated like many games these days.

Quality over quantity every time for me and this news is a shame. Reckon they could have done well for Sony if they’d bought them.

Aww, that sucks. I enjoyed the order.

Not surprising, they haven't released anything or shown anything since Lone Echo 2. Then they got hit with layoffs... On top of that, the sale for the Quest 3 don't look to great. The most recent rumored sale number put the headset at 1 million. It should have at least been at 2-3 million by now.

Will they ever remaster those PSP GoW's? Wouldn't mind playing them again.

@RagnarLothbrok The future wasn't bright for them had they not gone into VR. Their rep was basically destroyed after The Order, and Deformers wasn't going to save the studio... Lone Echo at least kept the studio a household name in VR while console gamers mocked them for The Order.

While they had a good Sony stint with the PSP, the order already showed that the studio was badly managed in both ballooning costs and communication.
It's a shame. There were many talented devs there.
It was over when they sold to meta.

The Order 1886 was a short game with some flaws but I still had a good time playing it and the world and graphics were absolutely incredible.

You would have to be insane to leave such a rich IP with huge potential behind.

Maybe they should remake God of war Betrayal, Let them make indie games style, why close whyyyy.

Wasted talent, never mind

Unfortunate, Daxter (even for being in Haven city other regions uses them well the new/cut off ones to be kind of it's own thing or like Jak 1 I guess and less of the open world mission style 2 & 3 were even if the vehicles in 3 were fun),

2 God of War PSP games (assist with those ones for the PS3 collection I assume but still good games in their own right and expanded the universe well),

The Order, Deformers, then VR games. What a life.

Oh and the Okami Wii port.

Lone Echo series/universe had good games for VR though. I assume audience just wasn't there sales wise or expectations?

I thought Facebook/Meta bought them, did they get let go? Did the studio staff just give up? Yet Meta wastes money on their other projects and kill Ready At Dawn off. What a bunch of idiots.

Unfortunate. I liked Daxter and the PSP God of War games, The Order I rebought for cheap/replayed it and I got to say, It felt it boring at times (have with some shooters pacing or compelling moments) but the world is really cool, the Tesla/sci-fi olden era but quirky guns are great, just like Resistance or Bioshock kind of way, enemy encounters are fair. It's not a bad game it's just trying but still solid/sticks the landing I think. It was different from what they were used to and I think it was fair.

The story was fair, the themes were fair. I didn't mind it. It being a cinematic game did make me go eh not sure about this. As to me Uncharted I don't mind because of how it balances platforming, puzzles and third person shooting regardless of the types of movies it's inspired by. While other games Sony has pushed, the gameplay hasn't been my thing really.

The Order felt sometimes fine, sometimes boring and sometimes fun depending on what was going on.

Killzone Shadowfall even for what it did and story didn't make a lot of sense I still found it fun. Sure the touchpad was used well for the robot, the 1 required weapon did restrict things but I didn't mind it. Sure it had the Killzone 3 like tone difference to it but I didn't mind. But I wasn't oh it has to be COD set pieces like at all.

Even Knack as long as they are to me I was like huh a family friendly God of War. I'm fine with that and I enjoyed both games. Even replayed 1 on hard mode just for the sake of it. Not done so much with 2 yet.

I never have issues with length or showcasing the graphics unless it's pushed too far. I was fine with the length being short it still took me probably 6-8-10 hours and that's fine. It felt like playing Black 2006, a game with a focus on the singleplayer experience, no MP, some other additional things (trophies in The Order's case, other sub mission goals in Black).

Been playing 6-7th gen shooters campaigns that are that 3 hours for longplays players but for me 6-10 hours length and had fun with their mechanics (sure I get them cheap but doesn't change much for me) like I wanted them to.

Wasn't a tech demo to me The Order 1886, it had what 13+ chapters, felt like a fair game to me.

I don't seek RPGs for the length I do the content (mostly Tactics not turn based/action RPGs anyways these days) so other genres going yep value for money of length, graphics, story but dull gameplay, nah pass.

@R-Soub Would be nice to see some of the Sony J2ME cellphone games appear again. That or just play it in a J2ME emulator on PC/Android.

Ready At Dawn didn't make that phone game, was a different studio.

They made Daxter, the PSP God of War games, The Order then Deformers and Lone Echo series leading up to their end (Occulus Rift VR games).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ready_at_Dawn (regardless of wikipedia accuracy)

@Perturbator Would be nice for them to offer them like other PSP titles have to PS+, a remake/remaster hmm would be cool but I doubt it.

There is a reason I bought the whole series on PS3 via collections (besides 3 Remastered on PS4). It might be a while or they might never offer them really. Hard to say.

@Deljo I assume The Order 1876 like Heavenly Sword or others that go independent but don't have the IP as a factor for them to own themselves, are all owned by Sony they just don't care to do anything with them.

@SuntannedDuck2 I know they didn't make that game, but they show us that they are amazing on handheld games which today can be Indie game playing 2d game and GOW Betrayal i a canon part of the story and imagine this game is remade like this new Prince of Persia 2d one.
I played Betrayal in 2008 on my phone and it was fun.

Sad news 😔
Chains of Olympus & Ghost of Sparta are solid GOW games and despite some flaws The Order 1886 was a pretty decent TPS with cool steampunk setting. I hope RAD devs found a new workplace because they're pretty talented.

@CrispyMango92 "This is one of the downsides started during the PS4 era. If your game didn’t sell millions AND wasn’t critically acclaimed, Sony wasn’t interested in a second chance in the IP or studio"

No. This isn't started with PS4 era but already existed for decades. The general rule is if a game doesn't sell enough at least to break even or recoup the development cost, most if not all publishers wouldn't greenlight a sequel no matter if that game got positive reviews. Remember, video games publishers aren't a philanthropy org. The main reason they created games because they want to generate money, not losing money.

@R-Soub Gotcha I just read the comment differently then.

But fair points made yes. They were but things do change, they maybe were but maybe not anymore? Either way they were console like on the go though so it's not that different besides scaling it to the hardware.

Yes like Indies of any period to now it could be possible to make something like it.

Ah you did never got to back in the day. Only briefly looked into it.

I know it's canon but yeah I don't remember enough of the story from what people have said about it.

One of the first if not first ultra wide console games. Super short but fun and was blasted and panned due that issue. Likely not bought by Sony just because review scores.

This industry is getting worse everyday imo. Ruined good developers lives. Whatever I loved my time with The Order 1886 and was a huge reason for me to get a PS4 along with Driveclub.

They were a solid company, it kind of sucks that people only lambast them for the Order 1866 when they were so much more than that.

Those PSP games were genuinely something else. Daxter and the God of War games.

Profound sadness. The Order 1886 wasn't perfect but it had potential. They had something to build on. Wished PlayStation and them had come to an agreement on a proper sequel before they let themselves get bought out.

The Order was so damn good but the gaming community ***** all over it in 2015. It came out at a time where gamers couldn't fathom paying full price for a decent game they could beat in five hours even though we've been doing it for decades. Hope those talented folks find work soon.

I enjoyed the order 1886. Was hoping there would be a part 2

That's sad to hear! I finished Daxter on PS5 yesterday and for an 18 year old PSP game it still looked pretty good and the gameplay is smooth. Also The Order was an amazing game that really needed a sequel!

@Jacko11 more like it needed to actually be finished, it was like a quarter of a game sold at full price, probably one of the shortest action adventure games i have ever played.

The photo mode in Order 1886 is fantastic.

I think at this point - once your studio gets bought by one of these big tech companies it is time to to refresh your resume.

I enjoyed Order 1886 and the PSP GOW

@Deityjester could it have been longer? Sure. should it have been longer? Yeah probably.

But what it did I was very satisfied with and the sequel, likely titled 1887, would have only improved on everything that came before.

I don't have too many pet ideas for sequels that would be awesome but The Order: 1986 with coked out 80s knights of the roundtable and werewolves is absolutely one of them 😩

I did like the Order 1886 but those quick time events were horrible. I think with some love and a new chance at part 2 it could have been something special.

this is a tragic story of how the gaming community and press at large destroyed a great developer. easily one of the most unfairly judged games of the ps4 gen. yes, it was a short game and perhaps the "value" wasn't there at the full asking price, but otherwise a very solid IP that stands as one of the more memorable and impressive looking games on the ps4.

sony REALLY should have given ready at dawn one more crack at it. the foundation was in place for an incredible trilogy. even if the order didn't prove to be a huge seller (i've read that it sold in the ballpark of 2m copies), what were sony's expectations and as the publisher, shouldn't they share part of the blame? dismissing such a talented studio like that was unfounded after just one atempt at a AAA game (with many past accolades).