Summary
- Rebel Wolves, founded by former CD Projekt Red developers, unveiled their debut game, The Blood of Dawnwalker, with a cinematic reveal trailer.
- The Blood of Dawnwalker echoes The Witcher with its open-world RPG format, dark fantasy setting, morally gray choices, and an outcast protagonist.
- The game introduces a unique twist with Persona-like time management mechanics.
The Blood of Dawnwalker has finally treated fans to its long-awaited reveal trailer, blending pre-rendered scenes with brief gameplay glimpses. This promotional video highlights the game's striking similarities to The Witcher, while also teasing intriguing elements inspired by Persona.
Developed by Rebel Wolves, a Polish studio established by former CD Projekt Red developers who contributed to The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077, The Blood of Dawnwalker was initially announced as Dawnwalker in January 2024. Described as a narrative-driven open-world RPG set in a dark fantasy world, the game promises meaningful choices and complex narratives.
On January 13, almost a year after its initial announcement, Rebel Wolves and publisher Bandai Namco hosted a reveal stream for The Blood of Dawnwalker. The stream concluded with a cinematic trailer lasting over four and a half minutes, which not only set the stage for the game's dark fantasy world but also introduced the Dawnwalkers—supernatural beings akin to enhanced vampires. The trailer also unveiled Coen, the protagonist who transforms into a Dawnwalker at the game's outset.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Echoes The Witcher
With its dark fantasy ambiance, monstrous creatures, and an open-world RPG framework featuring morally gray choices, The Blood of Dawnwalker strongly evokes The Witcher, especially with its tagline "the world needs what it fears." Fans of The Witcher 3's Blood and Wine expansion, with its vampire themes and tough decisions, will find The Blood of Dawnwalker's premise particularly compelling. The game includes a morality system, allowing players to decide whether Coen embraces his Dawnwalker nature to save his family or holds onto his humanity.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Incorporates Persona-Like Mechanics
While it may resemble The Witcher on the surface, The Blood of Dawnwalker introduces innovative elements to the open-world RPG genre. One notable feature is its time management system, inspired by Persona. In The Blood of Dawnwalker, every quest consumes time, and players must strategize how to use it effectively. "There are multiple approaches to saving Coen’s family with no clear division between main and side quests; you decide on how you spend the time," explained Rebel Wolves co-founder and game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz. This design, which Rebel Wolves calls a "narrative sandbox," makes it impossible to complete all quests in a single playthrough, promoting replayability and unique experiences each time.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is currently in development for PC and next-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Envisioned as the first installment in a trilogy, it will be published by Bandai Namco. While no specific release date has been set, and it's unlikely to launch before 2027 due to its 2022 start and triple-A budget, Rebel Wolves plans to reveal gameplay footage in the summer of 2025.
