Witcher-Persona Hybrid RPG Emerges

Rebel Wolves, a studio comprised of former CD Projekt Red developers, unveiled a cinematic trailer for their debut title, The Blood of Dawnwalker. This open-world RPG, reminiscent of The Witcher, features a dark fantasy setting, morally grey choices, and a compelling outcast protagonist. Intriguingly, it also incorporates Persona-like time management mechanics.

The recently released trailer, a blend of pre-rendered cutscenes and brief gameplay snippets, highlights the game's Witcher-esque atmosphere. Announced initially as Dawnwalker in January 2024, the game was officially revealed as The Blood of Dawnwalker on January 13th, 2025, via a reveal stream hosted by Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco. The over four-and-a-half-minute trailer introduces Coen, the protagonist, who becomes a Dawnwalker – essentially, a powerful vampire – at the game's outset.

Echoes of The Witcher and a Persona Twist

The Blood of Dawnwalker's dark fantasy backdrop, monstrous creatures, and morally ambiguous choices immediately evoke the Witcher series. Fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's "Blood and Wine" expansion, with its vampires and challenging decisions, will find the premise particularly appealing. The game's morality system allows players to shape Coen's path, choosing between embracing his Dawnwalker powers to save his family or clinging to his humanity.

However, The Blood of Dawnwalker distinguishes itself with its unique time management system, inspired by the Persona series. Every quest consumes time, creating a compelling narrative sandbox. As Rebel Wolves co-founder and game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz explains, "There are multiple approaches to saving Coen’s family with no clear division between main and side quests; you decide on how you spend the time." This design choice promotes replayability, ensuring each playthrough offers a distinct experience. Completing all quests in a single playthrough is impossible.

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