The Blood of Dawnwalker is shaping up to be as iconic as The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt thanks to many of the brains behind Geralt’s grand adventure being a part of Rebel Wolves’ attempt to recreate the magic of their nearly ten-year-old title with the power of modern gaming’s software and hardware at their disposal.
Despite The Blood of Dawnwalker being smaller than The Witcher 3 in size, it is by no means smaller in scope considering how Rebel Wolves is trying to push the boundaries of player engagement in its vampire-focused experience, taking a few risks along the way that are sure to reignite old debates of how much is too much in video games.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Creates A Bold New Direction for Fantasy RPGs
In an interview with GamesRadar, creative director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz elaborates on how the Rebel Wolves team is working to create a focused, streamlined, and highly engaging experience for players interested in following Coen’s rise to prominence in Vale Sangora.
Having previously commented on how The Blood of Dawnwalker is going to be a smaller title when compared to the ones that inspired it, Tomaszkiewicz reiterates Rebel Wolves’ mission to create new mechanics for players to work with as they fill the shoes of an actual vampire – an RPG experience that not many other titles have attempted in recent years.
“What are we gaining if we are trying to change things? Are we just changing them to be different, or are we changing them to actually achieve some goal?”
The change that he refers to in this instance is the fact that time is a valuable resource in The Blood of Dawnwalker, with its players forced to think about the missions they would like to take on as they explore its sandbox open-world.
Tomaszkiewicz is certain that a few players will be frustrated at being forced to miss out on content simply because they would rather focus their attention elsewhere at the moment but is equally certain that others would be thrilled with an open-world RPG that forces them to respond to its many mysteries in a timely manner with real consequences to their actions.
Rebel Wolves’ Clever Approach to Risk Management
How has Rebel Wolves chosen to handle the pressure of their risky decision to tinker with tried and tested RPG traditions? By remembering that they are catering to a specific type of player who likes to be tested by the games that they play.
“If you’re trying to make a game for everyone, it’s probably for no one. You need to think about, ‘what are your core players’ and how to satisfy their needs and how to make it fun for them, and also push the genre forward.”
It is evident that Rebel Wolves is ready to take negative feedback about a potentially divisive mechanic in its stride, understanding that some players may feel like they are losing out on potential rewards or lore when they decide to skip past time-sensitive missions.
However, that underlying sense of urgency is prevalent all through Coen’s personal narrative considering that the entire story is based on the premise that he has a limited amount of time to achieve his currently mysterious goals as he takes on Vale Sangora’s Cohen of vampire overlords.
It is a risk versus reward philosophy that Rebel Wolves is leveraging very well, both within the world that it has created as well as outside of it. And The Blood of Dawnwaker is sure to benefit from the bold new direction this studio has envisioned for the future of fantasy RPGs.
The Blood of Dawnwalker‘s release date is unknown, but it’s confirmed to launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
For more Thumb Wars Gaming coverage, check out our roundup of everything you need to know about The Blood of Dawnwalker or our take on potential additions to the game.
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With a passion for gaming that is equaled only by his love for writing, Varun has either a controller, keyboard, or a guitar in his hands when he is not out exploring the middle of nowhere on a motorcycle. Soulslikes, RPGs, and action-adventure titles keep him awake at night and get him out of bed in the morning. He will never stop lamenting the lack of a Bloodborne sequel even as he spends another couple of hours exploring the Lands Between in Elden Ring.
