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 mirrors 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 stepped into the spotlight with its eagerly awaited reveal trailer. This trailer, a blend of pre-rendered scenes and snippets of gameplay, showcases the game's deep connection to The Witcher while also hinting at innovative gameplay inspired by Persona.

Developed by Rebel Wolves, a Polish studio established by ex-CD Projekt Red team members who contributed to The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077, The Blood of Dawnwalker was first announced as Dawnwalker in January 2024. It was described as a narrative-driven open-world RPG set in a dark fantasy world, emphasizing meaningful player choices.

On January 13, exactly a year after its initial announcement, Rebel Wolves and publisher Bandai Namco streamed a reveal event culminating in an over four-and-a-half-minute cinematic trailer. This trailer not only sets the stage for the game's world but also introduces the Dawnwalkers—superpowered vampires within the game's lore. The protagonist, Coen, is thrust into this world as a Dawnwalker from the game's outset.

The Blood of Dawnwalker Reveal Trailer Is Reminiscent of The Witcher

The dark fantasy setting, the presence of monstrous creatures, and the framework of an open-world RPG with morally ambiguous choices make The Blood of Dawnwalker strikingly reminiscent of The Witcher. The game's tagline, "the world needs what it fears," further cements this connection. Fans of The Witcher 3's Blood and Wine expansion, with its vampires and tough moral decisions, will find much to appreciate in The Blood of Dawnwalker. The game's morality system allows players, as Coen, to choose between embracing his Dawnwalker nature to save his family or holding onto his humanity.

The Blood of Dawnwalker Also Takes a Page From Persona's Book

Beyond its Witcher-like elements, The Blood of Dawnwalker introduces a novel twist with Persona-like time management mechanics. Every quest in the game consumes time, and players must strategize how to use 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," explained Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, co-founder and game director at Rebel Wolves. This design ensures that not all quests and story arcs can be completed in one playthrough, fostering replayability and a unique experience each time. Rebel Wolves calls this a "narrative sandbox."

The Blood of Dawnwalker is currently in development for PC and next-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Envisioned as the first installment in a planned trilogy, it will be published by Bandai Namco. While a specific release date remains elusive, with development starting in 2022 and backed by a triple-A budget, a launch is not expected before 2027. Rebel Wolves has promised a gameplay reveal in the summer of 2025.