Choices and consequences in The Blood of Dawnwalker, releasing September 3

Rebel Wolves’ studio in Warsaw is abuzz with excitement as the development team showcases an extended live demo of their upcoming open-world RPG, The Blood of Dawnwalker. This marks the first detailed presentation since Gamescom 2025, as the game gears up for its PlayStation 5 release on September 3.

The demo quickly immerses players into a brutal 14th-century Europe. The protagonist, Coen, is introduced as he attempts to save his sister Lunka, who is infected with the Black Death, from execution. They are unexpectedly rescued by the vampire lord Brencis and his undead followers. After Lunka is forced to drink Brencis’ blood, she recovers, but the village faces a new terror as it must pay a ‘blood tax’ for protection, with dire consequences for defiance. Through a series of tragic events, Coen is cursed with vampirism and left for dead while his family is taken.

Players have 30 days and nights to rescue Coen’s family, with each significant action advancing the clock. Despite the expansive world filled with caves, settlements, and swamps to explore, the developers assure that the time constraint is balanced to avoid undue stress. “We don’t want to punish you for exploring,” says Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, CEO and game director. “You can complete most of the game before time runs out, and the game continues even if it does,” adds Creative Director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz.

The game’s narrative is deeply influenced by player choices, a hallmark of several team members who previously worked on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The demo showcases Coen undertaking various quests, each decision impacting the story, such as the fate of minor characters like Gremla and Coen’s mother, Esme. Coen’s blood hunger meter adds another layer of strategy, as neglecting it leads to uncontrollable urges, affecting interactions.

Players can satisfy Coen’s bloodlust by feeding on animals, offering moral choices with complex consequences. An early quest humorously involves rescuing a villager’s pig, only to face a moral dilemma upon its return.

Coen’s abilities evolve through a skill tree with branches for witchcraft, vampiric powers, and sword fighting, each influenced by the game’s day-night cycle. Unique vampiric mutations can be acquired by draining other vampires, adding depth to character progression.

Rebel Wolves is keeping many details under wraps, such as the weather system and the full extent of the game’s endings. However, Konrad hints at a rich narrative experience, with playthroughs lasting 55 to 70 hours. “The Blood of Dawnwalker is just the beginning,” he says, indicating plans for future stories. As the release date approaches, more information is expected about this epic tale of sacrifice and survival.