Rebel Wolves Unveils Cinematic Trailer for Debut RPG, The Blood of Dawnwalker
Former CD Projekt Red developers at Rebel Wolves have released a cinematic trailer for their highly anticipated debut title, The Blood of Dawnwalker. The trailer showcases a dark fantasy open-world RPG reminiscent of The Witcher, complete with morally grey choices and a compelling outcast protagonist. Intriguingly, the game also incorporates time management mechanics reminiscent of the Persona series.
The reveal trailer, primarily composed of pre-rendered cutscenes with brief gameplay glimpses, highlights the game's previously teased similarities to The Witcher. The nearly five-minute cinematic introduces the setting and the Dawnwalkers, described in the game's lore as powerful vampire-like beings. The trailer centers on Coen, the protagonist, who is transformed into a Dawnwalker at the game's outset.
The Blood of Dawnwalker's Witcher-esque Qualities
The game's dark fantasy setting, monstrous creatures, and open-world RPG structure with morally ambiguous choices immediately evoke the Witcher series, even independent of its development team's history. Fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's "Blood and Wine" expansion, with its focus on vampires and difficult decisions, will find the premise particularly captivating. The game features a robust morality system, allowing players to choose whether Coen embraces his Dawnwalker powers to save his family or clings to his remaining humanity.
The Blood of Dawnwalker's Unique Time Management System
While drawing inspiration from The Witcher, The Blood of Dawnwalker also innovates with Persona-style time management. Every quest consumes in-game time, creating a dynamic where completing every objective in a single playthrough is impossible. 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." This "narrative sandbox" design is intended to foster replayability and ensure each playthrough feels unique.
Currently in development for PC and current-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles, The Blood of Dawnwalker is planned as the first installment in a trilogy and will be published by Bandai Namco. While a release date remains unannounced, given its 2022 development start and AAA budget, a release before 2027 seems unlikely. Rebel Wolves has promised a gameplay reveal trailer in Summer 2025.
