The Blood of Dawnwalker Showcases Deep ‘Witchery’ Vibes in First Gameplay Overview; 2026 Launch Confirmed

Rebel Wolves, the studio founded by former CD Projekt RED developers, and publishing partner Bandai Namco Entertainment have unveiled a new gameplay overview of their dark action RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker. As expected, the game draws strong inspiration from The Witcher series, with its atmospheric world design, decision-driven narrative, and gritty combat mechanics—yet it adds a compelling twist of vampiric horror that makes it unmistakably unique.

The 12-minute gameplay video, captured from the game’s latest pre-beta PC build, reveals a rich, immersive world anchored in narrative and choice. Players take on the role of Coen, the titular Dawnwalker—a hybrid being born of both human and vampire blood—who must balance light and darkness while navigating a city caught between mundane life and hidden monstrosities.

Day & Night Duality as Core Gameplay Pillar

The Blood of Dawnwalker features a striking contrast between day and night cycles, not only in aesthetics but also in gameplay mechanics. By day, the game reveals a bustling medieval city—Svartrau—reminiscent of Novigrad in The Witcher III: Wild Hunt. Coen wields traditional weapons and runic magic carved into his skin, though these bloody runes come at a cost: his own health.

At night, the game turns into a supernatural thriller. Coen's vampiric instincts awaken, giving access to deadly powers such as Shadowstep and razor-sharp claws. But this strength is tethered to an internal battle—bloodlust. If the player fails to feed Coen through enemies, villagers, or animals—or by using crafted blood vials—he risks losing control. Unlike other titles, death or loss of control doesn't result in failure but creates narrative consequences, potentially killing key characters and changing the storyline entirely.

This narrative system—described by Rebel Wolves as a “story sandbox”—blurs the line between main and side quests. Every choice pushes the plot forward, offering truly reactive storytelling without traditional game-over scenarios.

For Honor-Style Directional Combat

The developers also revealed the combat system borrows from the directional mechanics of For Honor, with four possible attack and block directions. This mechanic brings tactical depth to every encounter, requiring players to time counterattacks and blocks precisely. The goal is to simulate cinematic duels that feel visceral and personal.

A boss fight concludes the gameplay showcase, featuring a powerful vampire enemy named Xanthe, and showing that while players can challenge major bosses early on, doing so unprepared will likely end in tragedy. The game also includes a soft-timer mechanic—Coen has 30 in-game days to save his family—though the developers clarified it behaves more like a resource than a strict countdown.

Release Window and Platforms

Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco confirmed that The Blood of Dawnwalker will officially release in 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game is powered by Unreal Engine 5 and is being developed by a team that includes alumni from The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and other CD Projekt projects, which explains the cinematic flair and strong narrative focus.

Can a vampire RPG ever be as emotionally powerful as The Witcher? With gameplay this rich and narrative this layered, The Blood of Dawnwalker may just redefine the genre. What do you think—are you ready to walk the line between light and bloodlust?