New RPG Is Like The Witcher Meets Persona

Rebel Wolves, a Polish studio founded by former CD Projekt Red developers, has unveiled the cinematic reveal trailer for their debut game, The Blood of Dawnwalker. This open-world RPG, initially announced as Dawnwalker in January 2024, showcases a dark fantasy setting reminiscent of The Witcher series, complete with morally gray choices and an outcast protagonist. The trailer, which aired during a reveal stream hosted by Rebel Wolves and publisher Bandai Namco on January 13, runs over four and a half minutes and introduces the game's setting and the titular Dawnwalkers—powerful vampire-like beings. The protagonist, Coen, is transformed into a Dawnwalker at the game's outset, setting the stage for a narrative filled with complex decisions and a morality system that allows players to choose between embracing their Dawnwalker nature to save their family or clinging to their humanity.

While The Blood of Dawnwalker draws clear inspiration from The Witcher, it also incorporates unique elements inspired by the Persona series, particularly in its time management mechanics. Every quest in the game consumes time, and players must decide how to allocate their hours, as not all quests and story arcs can be completed in a single playthrough. This design choice, described by Rebel Wolves co-founder and game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz as a "narrative sandbox," aims to enhance replayability and ensure each playthrough feels distinct. Players will have multiple approaches to saving Coen's family, with no clear distinction between main and side quests, allowing for a highly personalized gaming experience.

The Blood of Dawnwalker is currently in development for PC and current-generation PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Envisioned as the first installment in a trilogy and backed by a triple-A budget, the game is slated for release no earlier than 2027. Rebel Wolves plans to share a gameplay reveal in the summer of 2025, keeping fans eagerly anticipating further details on this promising new title.