The Witcher 4 is set to face stiff competition from The Blood of Dawnwalker. This game comes from studio Rebel Wolves, co-founded by Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, the former game director for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt at CD Projekt Red. Tomaszkiewicz left the company a few years ago, along with several employees, and has since announced that his new game will be available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series in 2026 (the exact date is yet to be confirmed). A gameplay presentation for The Blood of Dawnwalker is scheduled for summer 2025, likely at gamescom. Set in an alternate version of 14th century Europe where feudal lords have been overthrown by powerful vampires, the game will be an Action-RPG featuring Coen, a young man turned into a Dawnwalker (a vampire), who has 30 days and nights to either save his family or seek revenge.
Inspired by classic RPGs, the goal is to create an environment where players experience a sense of urgency within an open-world setting. There are multiple strategies available for saving the Coen family, and there is no clear distinction between main quests and side quests, allowing players to choose how they allocate their time. According to Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, game director and co-founder of Rebel Wolves, “Time is a valuable resource, and as you progress through each quest, it becomes impossible to complete all storylines and arcs before the impending deadline, making every playthrough unique.” This approach to storytelling is referred to as a narrative sandbox.
One of the distinctive features of “The Blood of Dawnwalker” is that Coen’s character will exhibit different attitudes depending on the time of day due to his vampire nature. Players will experience varying skills, abilities, and narrative outcomes during both day and night. This system mirrors what was implemented in the game “Vampyr” by Focus Entertainment. Players must decide whether they will fight for humanity or embrace their cursed powers. Additionally, it is noted that Rebel Moon Studio has partnered with Bandai Namco for the publication of their game, as they are already collaborating with CD Projekt Red on The Witcher saga. It is also learned that “The Blood of Dawnwalker” is the first chapter in Rebel Wolves’ original dark fantasy series and plans are being made to expand the lore if the initial release performs well commercially.
In the meantime, a CGI cinematic has been released, showcasing events that take place two years before the game. The video introduces Coen, his sister Lunka, and a group of vampires led by their merciless yet charismatic lord, Brencis.
