Rebel Wolves, a studio comprised of former CD Projekt Red developers, unveiled a cinematic trailer for their debut title, The Blood of Dawnwalker. This open-world RPG boasts a dark fantasy setting, morally grey choices reminiscent of The Witcher, and a unique time management system inspired by Persona.
The trailer, primarily pre-rendered but including brief gameplay snippets, showcases the game's world and introduces Coen, the protagonist transformed into a Dawnwalker – essentially, a powerful vampire. The tagline, "the world needs what it fears," further emphasizes the game's dark tone.
The Blood of Dawnwalker's similarities to The Witcher are undeniable. The dark fantasy setting, monstrous creatures, and morally challenging decisions will resonate with fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Blood and Wine expansion. Players will face the dilemma of embracing their Dawnwalker powers to save their family or clinging to their humanity.
However, The Blood of Dawnwalker distinguishes itself through its Persona-esque time management mechanic. Every quest consumes time, forcing players to prioritize their actions. Game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz explains that there are multiple paths to saving Coen's family, blurring the lines between main and side quests. Completing everything in a single playthrough is impossible, encouraging replayability and fostering unique narrative experiences within the "narrative sandbox."
Currently in development for PC and current-gen consoles (PlayStation and Xbox), The Blood of Dawnwalker is planned as the first installment in a trilogy and will be published by Bandai Namco. While a release date remains unannounced, given its 2022 inception, AAA budget, and projected gameplay reveal in Summer 2025, a release before 2027 seems unlikely.
