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-style time management mechanics.

The Blood of Dawnwalker's highly anticipated reveal trailer, a blend of pre-rendered visuals and brief gameplay glimpses, debuted recently. The trailer highlights the game's similarities to The Witcher, while also showcasing its 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 was initially announced as Dawnwalker in January 2024. It was described then as a narrative-driven open-world RPG within a dark fantasy setting, emphasizing meaningful choices.

Exactly one 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. The trailer establishes the game's world and introduces the Dawnwalkers—powerful beings akin to vampires—and the protagonist, Coen, who becomes a Dawnwalker at the game's outset.

The Blood of Dawnwalker Reveal Trailer: Echoes of The Witcher

The dark fantasy setting, monstrous creatures, open-world RPG structure with morally gray choices, and the tagline "the world needs what it fears" immediately evoke The Witcher’s atmosphere, even without the connection to former CDPR developers. Fans of The Witcher 3’s Blood and Wine expansion, with its vampires and challenging decisions, will find the premise particularly intriguing. The game’s emphasis on player choice is further reflected in its morality system, where Coen must choose between embracing his Dawnwalker powers to save his family or clinging to his humanity.

The Blood of Dawnwalker: A Persona-Inspired Twist

While superficially similar to The Witcher, The Blood of Dawnwalker introduces a unique twist on the open-world RPG formula. The game integrates Persona-like time management mechanics; every quest demands a time investment. 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 all quests in a single playthrough is impossible, a design choice intended to boost replayability and ensure each playthrough feels distinct. Rebel Wolves terms this a "narrative sandbox."

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, given its 2022 development start and AAA budget, a release before 2027 seems unlikely. Rebel Wolves has promised a gameplay reveal in Summer 2025.