The Order: 1886 - 15 Easter Eggs, References & In Jokes You Must See

12. How Alternate Is The History Timeline?

Very. The game very much offers a steam-punk vision of London, though it doesn't really go full punk, instead preferring to go with the idea of an alternate timeline that is fundamentally explainable (at least in terms of the technology available). For most of the major technological advances, 1886 came too early: Nikola Tesla's work on electricity wasn't yielding as concrete results, Thermite wasn't discovered (and thus wasn't weaponisable yet) and there certainly weren't radios or airships. So Sony have clearly taken some liberties. But, they do sort of explain the changes: in this universe the industrial revolution has been accelerated by war (something that tends to evolve all technological cultures), and the need to battle half-breeds has meant that technology has advanced accordingly. That's why the universe seems to be a few years ahead, and nobody is wandering around with a smart phone or modern weaponry.