Knack and Knack 2 are A productions at most. Ready at Dawn is not a Sony studio but regardless, it was a graphical showcase that functioned as a PR machine like Killzone did for the PS3. It was a failure indeed, I mean a sequel was planned and it never entered production so that tells you everything you need to know about achieving success or not. Gran Turismo Sport's (tho now a fantastic entry) launch definitely was a failure but it made less of an impact because most of the press is american and compared to UE where it's a tentpole release and Sony's biggest IP (I mean GT in EU sells a lot of hardware, a LOT), it ain't seen as important in USA. But it was indeed a failed launch and it'll end up selling much less than even GT6. But The Order, Driveclub, Knack, Shadowfall, these are all games announced when PS4 hadn't even launched. It's much different than the DG's situation. And it's a Sony 3rd person action adventure(tm), that's their bread and butter and where they have pristine record and without a doubt they are the leaders in the whole industry. So when Sony puts out a new one of those kind of games, it comes with certain expectations. People saying Bend and Sony will be pleased are not fooling anyone but themselves, it's not only a matter of getting 70MC (not it's not like scoring a 7/10 in class, mate) but the very harsh criticism that game's getting and no devs will feel happy with that, but I assure you they know it too well to be true. When you spend so much time on a project and your heart and it doesn't come whole at end like you wanted to, you'll be your worst critic, see all its faults and more.
I think it's pity, but I still can't believe how where they in believing in delivering such a tropes pastiche with zero drive for telling their story. You'd think the game has been written in less than a year instead of its long gestation.