Immersive RPG Marrying Action and Social Elements Emerges

Rebel Wolves' "The Blood of Dawnwalker": A Cinematic Reveal

Rebel Wolves, a Polish studio comprised of former CD Projekt Red developers, unveiled a cinematic trailer for their debut title, The Blood of Dawnwalker. The trailer, primarily pre-rendered footage with brief gameplay glimpses, showcases a dark fantasy open-world RPG heavily reminiscent of The Witcher, incorporating unique time management mechanics inspired by Persona.

The game, initially announced as Dawnwalker in January 2024, was further revealed in a January 13, 2025 stream hosted by Rebel Wolves and publisher Bandai Namco. The over four-and-a-half-minute trailer introduces Coen, the protagonist, who becomes a Dawnwalker—essentially, a powerful vampire—at the game's outset. The trailer highlights the game's setting and the Dawnwalkers themselves.

Echoes of The Witcher and Beyond

The Blood of Dawnwalker shares significant thematic similarities with The Witcher series. Its dark fantasy setting, morally gray choices, monster encounters, and the tagline "the world needs what it fears" immediately evoke the Witcher atmosphere. Players familiar with The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine's vampire elements and challenging moral dilemmas will likely find the premise compelling. Coen's journey allows players to choose between embracing his Dawnwalker powers for family or clinging to his humanity, adding depth to the narrative.

A Persona-Inspired Twist

Beyond its Witcher-esque foundation, The Blood of Dawnwalker innovates with Persona-style time management. Quest completion requires time investment, and there's no clear distinction between main and side quests. As Rebel Wolves co-founder and game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz explains, players determine how they allocate their time, impacting the narrative. This "narrative sandbox" design, where completing everything in one playthrough is impossible, is intended to foster replayability and unique experiences.

Release and Future Plans

Currently in development for PC and current-gen consoles (PlayStation and Xbox), The Blood of Dawnwalker is planned as the first installment of a trilogy. While a concrete release date remains unannounced, given its 2022 development start and AAA budget, a 2027 release or later seems plausible. Rebel Wolves promises a gameplay reveal in Summer 2025.