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, predominantly pre-rendered footage with brief gameplay glimpses, showcases a dark fantasy open-world RPG reminiscent of The Witcher, incorporating unique time management mechanics inspired by Persona.

The Blood of Dawnwalker, initially announced as Dawnwalker in January 2024, was described as a narrative-driven RPG with impactful choices. A year later, Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco presented an extended cinematic trailer (over four and a half minutes) on January 13th, 2025. This 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 lore, focusing on the Dawnwalkers themselves.

A Witcher-esque Experience with a Persona Twist

The game's dark fantasy setting, monstrous creatures, morally gray choices, and the tagline "the world needs what it fears" immediately evoke the atmosphere of The Witcher. Fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's "Blood and Wine" expansion, with its vampire elements and complex decisions, will find much to appreciate. The game features a robust morality system, allowing Coen to either embrace his Dawnwalker powers to save his family or retain his humanity.

Beyond its Witcher similarities, The Blood of Dawnwalker innovates with Persona-style time management. Every quest consumes time, creating a "narrative sandbox" where players must prioritize their actions. Rebel Wolves co-founder and game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz explains that multiple approaches exist to save Coen's family, blurring the lines between main and side quests. Completing all quests in a single playthrough is impossible, encouraging replayability and unique experiences.

Development and Release

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