Summary

• Rebel Wolves, a studio comprised of former CD Projekt Red developers, unveiled a cinematic trailer for their debut game, The Blood of Dawnwalker.
• The Blood of Dawnwalker is an open-world RPG set in a dark fantasy world, featuring morally gray choices and an outcast protagonist, reminiscent of The Witcher.
• The game incorporates Persona-like time management mechanics.

The Blood of Dawnwalker's long-awaited reveal trailer, a blend of pre-rendered footage and brief gameplay glimpses, debuted recently. The trailer highlights the game's similarities to The Witcher, combined with unique Persona-inspired elements.

Developed by Rebel Wolves, a Polish studio founded by former CD Projekt Red developers (known for The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077), The Blood of Dawnwalker (initially announced as Dawnwalker in January 2024) was described as a narrative-driven open-world RPG with impactful choices within a dark fantasy setting.

A year later, on January 13th, Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco presented a reveal stream culminating in a captivating cinematic trailer exceeding four and a half minutes. This trailer showcases the game's setting and introduces the Dawnwalkers—powerful vampire-like beings—alongside Coen, the protagonist, who becomes a Dawnwalker at the game's outset.

The Blood of Dawnwalker Reveal Trailer: Echoes of The Witcher

The Blood of Dawnwalker, with its dark fantasy backdrop, monstrous creatures, open-world RPG structure, morally gray choices, and tagline "the world needs what it fears," evokes a strong Witcher vibe, even independent of its development team's history. Fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's "Blood and Wine" expansion, with its vampires and challenging decisions, will likely find the premise compelling. The game's emphasis on player choice is reflected in its morality system, where Coen can embrace his Dawnwalker nature to save his family or cling to his humanity.

The Blood of Dawnwalker: A Persona-Inspired Twist

While superficially similar to The Witcher, The Blood of Dawnwalker introduces innovative twists to the open-world RPG formula. Crucially, it incorporates Persona-like time management mechanics, where each quest consumes time. As Rebel Wolves co-founder and game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz explains, "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." Completing every quest in a single playthrough is impossible, encouraging replayability and unique experiences within what Rebel Wolves terms a "narrative sandbox."

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.

Currently in development for PC and current-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles, The Blood of Dawnwalker is envisioned as the first installment in a trilogy, published by Bandai Namco. While a concrete release date remains elusive, the game's 2022 development start and AAA budget suggest a release no earlier than 2027. Rebel Wolves promises a gameplay reveal in Summer 2025.