Rebel Wolves confirmed The Blood of Dawnwalker will launch on September 3, 2026 during the Road to Launch event. The studio revealed a new story trailer, over 10 minutes of open-world gameplay, full PC system requirements, and edition details.
The Blood of Dawnwalker has an official release date: September 3, 2026. Developer Rebel Wolves and publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment revealed the date during a 45-minute “Road to Launch” livestream event on April 28, alongside a new story trailer, over 10 minutes of open-world gameplay footage, detailed PC system requirements, and full edition breakdowns. The game is coming to PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with pre-orders now live across all platforms.
What Was Shown at the Road to Launch Event?
The Road to Launch event was the most comprehensive look at The Blood of Dawnwalker to date. Rebel Wolves showcased new gameplay recorded on the latest PC build, focusing on narrative-driven open-world activities. The event also featured in-depth developer commentary from writer Piotr Kucharski, lead gameplay animator Daria Bury-Zawada, senior level designer Maciej Wiśniewski, and producer Dorota Rutkowska.
Beyond gameplay, the stream included a new original track from the game’s soundtrack titled “Uphill Battle,” performed by the musicians behind the score. A behind-the-scenes segment highlighted former UFC champion Jan Błachowicz, who contributed motion capture performances for Bakir, a vampire antagonist from Brencis’ clique. Błachowicz explained how his combat expertise helped bring authenticity and physicality to the game’s fight sequences.
What Does the Story Trailer Reveal?
The new story trailer introduces a cast of characters that protagonist Coen will encounter across Vale Sangora, a mysterious region in the Carpathian Mountains. Some become allies, others enemies, but all play crucial roles in the narrative. The trailer also revealed previously unseen locations and offered deeper insight into the game’s creative vision.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is set in 14th-century Europe, a period engulfed by bloody wars and the Black Death. Vampires seize this moment of weakness to emerge from the shadows. The player controls Coen, a young man transformed into a Dawnwalker: no longer fully human, not entirely vampire. His goal is to save his family from Brencis, the vampire lord who rules Vale Sangora. Along the way, players navigate uneasy alliances and dramatic confrontations where every choice shapes both the story and the gameplay.
The 30-Day Clock: How the Time Mechanic Works
One of the game’s most distinctive systems is a 30-day time limit. Coen has exactly 30 days and 30 nights to save his family. Crucially, time only advances when players complete quests or take plot-relevant actions. Exploring the open world freely does not progress the clock. An hourglass icon indicates how much time each quest or activity will cost before you commit.
Game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz has stated this system is not meant to punish players. Creative director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz clarified that reaching the time limit does not trigger a game-over state; instead, it produces consequences and the game continues. According to team playtesting, the full experience runs approximately 55 to 70 hours depending on choices and playstyle, with multiple difficulty levels available.
Human by Day, Vampire by Night: The Dual Gameplay Loop
Coen’s day and night forms create two fundamentally different gameplay experiences. During the day, Coen fights with swords using a directional blocking system where players select one of four directions to attack or parry. Dealing damage earns activation charges that can be spent on Hex magic or devastating execution moves. Daytime magic is described as raw and ritual-based, tied to elements like blood, heat, and air.
At night, Coen transforms into a vampire with an entirely different ability set. He can walk vertically on walls, use Shadowstep to teleport across distances, and fight with claws. Biting enemies regenerates health. The skill tree is divided into three branches: daytime magic (hex abilities), nighttime vampire powers, and shared swordplay skills that function in both forms.
The blood hunger mechanic adds another layer. When Coen’s hunger drops critically low, all dialogue options can be overridden by an uncontrollable “Submit to Hunger” command. Feeding on humans or animals increases a corruption level, which in turn unlocks more powerful vampiric perks for purchase. This creates a constant tension between maintaining humanity and embracing the curse.
Open-World Activities and Progression
The gameplay showcase demonstrated how the open world is structured. Vantage points reveal nearby points of interest on the map. Shrines serve as fast travel points and perk-unlocking stations, but many are damaged and must be restored by finding missing components. Perks cost both experience points and time segments, reinforcing the 30-day mechanic even in character progression.
Brencis’ officers control different operations across Vale Sangora. Disrupting their activities (destroying blood supply warehouses, liberating prisoners, clearing camps) raises an infamy meter tied to each officer. When infamy reaches its peak, new questlines unlock that influence the main confrontation with Brencis. The game describes itself as a “narrative sandbox” where the story is so non-linear that players can align with the human rebellion or complete the game without ever meeting them.
Haunted sites, accessible only during the day, test both combat skills and magical abilities. Completing them grants ancient texts that strengthen Coen’s magic. Multiple enemy types populate the world, including Myurons (vampires whose transformations went wrong, resulting in chaotic and unpredictable behaviour) and blood gods (human soldiers enhanced by vampire blood).
PC System Requirements: RTX 5090 Needed for Ultra 4K
Rebel Wolves published a full breakdown of PC specs. All tiers require 16 GB of RAM and 60 GB of SSD storage. Importantly, these specifications are listed without upscaling technologies enabled. Both NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR will be available at launch, which should lower effective hardware demands considerably.
| Preset | Resolution / FPS | CPU | GPU | VRAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 1080p / 30 FPS (Low) | Intel i7-8700K / AMD Ryzen 7 3700X | RTX 3050 / GTX 1070 / RX Vega 56 / Arc A580 | 6 GB |
| Recommended | 1080p / 60 FPS (High) | Intel i5-13600 / AMD Ryzen 9 7900X | RTX 5060 / RX 6800 XT | 12 GB |
| Recommended | 1440p / 60 FPS (High) | Intel i5-13600 / AMD Ryzen 9 7900X | RTX 4070 Ti / RX 7800 XT | 12 GB |
| Ultra | 1440p / 60 FPS (Ultra) | Intel i5-13600K / AMD Ryzen 9 7950X | RTX 4080 / RX 7900 XTX | 16 GB |
| Ultra | 4K / 60 FPS (Ultra) | Intel i5-13600K / AMD Ryzen 9 7950X | RTX 5090 | 16 GB |
The 12 GB VRAM requirement at the recommended tier is worth noting. Some RTX 5060 Ti cards ship with only 8 GB of VRAM, which could cause issues at higher settings without upscaling assistance.
Editions, Pricing, and Pre-Order Bonus
Three main editions are available. On Steam, the standard edition is priced at $69.99 USD and the Eclipse Edition at $79.99 USD. The Collector’s Edition is listed at €199.99 on the Bandai Namco EU store. All pre-orders include the Sangoran Wayfarer’s Armor Set as a bonus.
- Standard Edition (Digital): The base game.
- Day One Edition (Physical retail): The game, a SteelBook case, and a map of Vale Sangora. Available worldwide while supplies last.
- Eclipse Edition (Digital): The game, a digital world compendium, digital soundtrack, and a digital comic book.
- Collector’s Edition (Limited): All Day One and Eclipse Edition contents plus a physical world compendium and a Coen figurine, all in a premium collector’s box.
Who Is Rebel Wolves?
Rebel Wolves was founded in Warsaw, Poland in 2022 by Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, the director of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and head of production for Cyberpunk 2077. The studio’s leadership includes creative director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, design director Daniel Sadowski, narrative director Jakub Szamałek, and art director Bartłomiej Gaweł, all veterans of the Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077 at CD Projekt RED. As of April 2026, the studio has grown to 160 employees including administration.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is described as “the first chapter of a brand new role-playing saga,” strongly suggesting a planned series rather than a standalone title. The game is built on Unreal Engine 5.
Things Worth Knowing Before You Pre-Order
How long does the game take to complete?
Between 55 and 70 hours based on internal playtesting at Rebel Wolves, depending on choices and how much of the open world you explore.
Does exploring the open world use up the 30-day timer?
No. Only story-affecting quests and actions advance the clock. Free exploration, looting, and traversal do not consume time.
Is there multiplayer or co-op?
No. The Blood of Dawnwalker is a single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative modes.
How does it compare to The Witcher 3?
Rebel Wolves welcomes comparisons given the team’s heritage, but the dual day/night gameplay loop, 30-day time mechanic, and narrative sandbox structure make it a distinctly different kind of RPG. Konrad Tomaszkiewicz has said he feels confident that the game stands on its own while delivering the narrative depth players expect from his team’s previous work.
Will DLSS and FSR be available at launch?
Yes. Both NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR upscaling technologies will be supported from day one, which should significantly reduce the hardware requirements for smooth performance at higher resolutions.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is shaping up to be one of 2026’s most anticipated RPGs. With its September 3 release date now locked in, a rich dark fantasy setting powered by Unreal Engine 5, and a pedigree rooted in some of the most acclaimed RPGs of the past decade, the countdown to Coen’s 30-day struggle in Vale Sangora is officially on.
