A game clearly set up and intended as a franchise, looking like it will not become a franchise, I call that a flop. I think the game got rated (metacritic) about right. Personally it's a 6 or 6.5 game to me. It's a good game but it is also lacking in many areas which should not be lacking from a 1st party Sony AAA game. Someone was not keeping an eye on this game.
I would like Sony to take a risk, put the team back together for a sequel, but infuse some more talent into senior positions in the project who will oversee and guide the development to make a more well rounded product. There is good will for the game and the world they created out there and people want to like it a lot more than what they can right now. A lot of critics said generally negative things about the game, but still voiced hope there would be a sequel.
But I believe Sony's risk is now being tied up with Horizon: Zero Dawn (please be a project name and not the actual name of the game). This is the next big budget new IP that needs to be a hit for Sony. Maybe if Horizon makes profit, and when Uncharted's money roles in, and if Santa Monica can make a hit with its next game they might be willing to dust off The Order again and see if they can do more with it second time around.
“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.” - Bertrand Russell
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."
Jimi Hendrix
