The Blood of Dawnwalker: Striving for The Witcher 3's Quality in a Smaller Package

The upcoming open-world vampire RPG, The Blood of Dawnwalker, developed by former CD Projekt Red (CDPR) developers, is setting its sights on achieving a level of quality comparable to that of The Witcher 3. Despite being a smaller studio, Rebel Wolves, the team behind this ambitious project, is determined to deliver a compelling and high-quality gaming experience. Read on to learn more about this eagerly anticipated title and hear from the directors themselves.

The Blood of Dawnwalker Aims For AAA Quality

30-40 Hour Main Campaign

In an interview with Games Radar, Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, the creative director of The Blood of Dawnwalker, expressed the team's commitment to achieving star quality similar to CD Projekt Red's renowned The Witcher 3. Despite being a smaller studio embarking on their first project, the team at Rebel Wolves is not new to the gaming industry. Comprised of former CDPR developers who contributed to both The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, the team brings a wealth of experience and a clear vision to their new venture.

Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz and his brother Konrad founded Rebel Wolves to gain more creative freedom in their game development, free from the constraints often found in larger AAA studios. "In terms of quality, we definitely look at AAA, because this is where we are coming from, the quality level of The Witcher 3," Mateusz stated, emphasizing their goal to match that level of excellence.

While acknowledging that their game won't match the sheer size of traditional AAA titles in terms of content and gameplay hours, Mateusz clarified, "Definitely, our games are not as huge in terms of amount of content and gameplay hours - we are a smaller studio, this is our first project, so we definitely are building something smaller. But we want to build something as robust in terms of quality, maybe a bit shorter." He noted that The Blood of Dawnwalker aims for a main campaign lasting 30-40 hours, which, while shorter than some AAA games, still promises a substantial and immersive experience.

Mateusz also challenged the notion that size alone defines a game's classification, pointing out that even some AAA titles like Call of Duty don't offer 100+ hours of gameplay yet remain firmly in the AAA category. "If size is your measure, then yes it's not the size of a AAA like The Witcher. But I don't know if size is the measure, to be honest, because there are AAA games like Call of Duty that aren't 100+ hours gameplay campaigns. And I don't know if anyone would call them AA, or indie."

The Blood of Dawnwalker is set in the mystical land of Vale Sangora, where players will take on the role of Coen, a young peasant who gains vampiric powers after a fateful encounter. Driven by a mission to save his ailing sister, Coen embarks on a journey through a dark and hostile world, navigating its challenges and peculiarities.

While no specific release date has been announced, The Blood of Dawnwalker is expected to 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 the world of Vale Sangora and the adventures that await.