Rebel Wolves, a studio formed by former CD Projekt Red developers, has unveiled their debut game, *The Blood of Dawnwalker*, with a captivating cinematic reveal trailer. The trailer, which combines pre-rendered footage with brief gameplay snippets, was showcased during a reveal stream hosted by Rebel Wolves and publisher Bandai Namco on January 13. This marks a significant milestone for the game, initially announced as *Dawnwalker* in January 2024, highlighting its evolution into a narrative-driven open-world RPG set in a dark fantasy world.
Echoes of The Witcher
*The Blood of Dawnwalker* draws clear inspiration from The Witcher series, not only due to its creators' history but also through its thematic elements. The game features a dark fantasy setting, monstrous creatures, and an open-world RPG framework with morally gray choices. The protagonist, Coen, starts his journey after being transformed into a Dawnwalker—a powerful vampire-like entity. The game's tagline, "the world needs what it fears," further solidifies its connection to the morally complex narratives fans loved in The Witcher 3's *Blood and Wine* expansion. Players will navigate a morality system, deciding whether Coen should embrace his Dawnwalker nature to save his family or strive to retain his humanity.
Incorporating Persona's Time Management
Beyond its Witcher-esque elements, *The Blood of Dawnwalker* introduces a unique twist with Persona-like time management mechanics. Every quest in the game consumes time, and players must strategically choose how to spend it. "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," explains Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, co-founder and game director at Rebel Wolves. This design encourages replayability, as completing all quests and story arcs in one run is impossible, creating a "narrative sandbox" where each playthrough can feel distinct.
Currently in development for PC and next-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles, *The Blood of Dawnwalker* is planned as the first installment in a trilogy. While no specific release date has been set, given its start in 2022 and a triple-A budget, a market entry before 2027 seems unlikely. Fans can look forward to a gameplay reveal in the summer of 2025, as Rebel Wolves continues to build anticipation for this promising new RPG.
