The Blood of Dawnwalker: Aiming for AAA Quality in a Smaller Package

The upcoming open-world vampire RPG, The Blood of Dawnwalker, is setting its sights high. Developed by ex-CD Projekt Red (CDPR) developers at Rebel Wolves, the game aspires to match the quality of The Witcher 3, despite its more compact scope. In an interview with Games Radar, creative director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz expressed the team's ambition to deliver a stellar gaming experience, even as a smaller studio launching their debut title.

The Blood Of Dawnwalker Aims For AAA Quality

30-40 Hour Main Campaign

Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, in conversation with Games Radar, highlighted that although Rebel Wolves is a new studio, its team members are seasoned industry veterans. Having worked on acclaimed titles like The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 at CDPR, they bring a wealth of experience to their new venture. The studio, founded by Mateusz and his brother Konrad, aims to produce games with more creative freedom than what's typically possible at larger AAA studios.

Tomaszkiewicz acknowledged the game's smaller scale but emphasized their commitment to quality. "Our games are not as huge in terms of content and gameplay hours—we are a smaller studio, and this is our first project. But we want to build something as robust in terms of quality, maybe a bit shorter," he explained. The main campaign of The Blood of Dawnwalker is expected to last between 30 to 40 hours, which, while shorter than some AAA titles, does not detract from its ambition. Tomaszkiewicz questioned the notion of size as a defining factor for AAA status, citing examples like Call of Duty which, despite not having 100+ hour campaigns, are firmly in the AAA category.

The Blood of Dawnwalker is set in the mystical land of Vale Sangora, where players will embody Coen, a young peasant transformed into a vampire after an encounter with one of the land's most powerful vampires. Coen's journey is driven by the urgent need to save his sister from a deadly illness, navigating through the dark and hostile environment of Vale Sangora.

While an exact release date has not been announced, The Blood of Dawnwalker is planned for launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Fans can look forward to a gameplay reveal in Summer 2025, offering a first glimpse into what promises to be a captivating narrative sandbox open-world dark fantasy RPG.