The Blood of Dawnwalker will be released on September 3, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Developer Rebel Wolves and publisher Bandai Namco just announced this at the Summer Game Fest.
In addition to the final release date, there was also real gameplay and a CGI teaser that completely caught the entire community off guard.
Rebel Wolves finally shows us what we're in for this September. The new gameplay trailer focuses entirely on the origin story of protagonist Coen and his brutal conflict with vampire lord Brencis.
The setting is the bleak Vale Sangora in the Carpathian Mountains. The story remains firmly rooted in the 14th century and promises a truly satisfying, self-contained dark fantasy experience. No cliffhangers. No artificially drawn-out ending. That's exactly what we want to hear. Period.
Suddenly in a modern setting
The shock comes in the second video for the "Dawnwalker Saga." The CGI teaser suddenly catapults Coen into a modern 21st-century setting. The developers aren't planning a short adventure here, but a gigantic saga spanning centuries, continents, and cultures.
According to Game Director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, time travel is not planned, but each future installment will take place in a completely different era. Attentive players should be able to find the first hints of this overarching mystery in the game starting in September.
“I have a feeling that today’s presentation may have surprised many who didn’t expect Coen’s story to take place in the modern era. However, I want to emphasize that each installment in the series will be a standalone game with its own story – without narrative cliffhangers, unresolved plot threads, or time travel concepts. Since the inception of Rebel Wolves, we’ve always been clear that The Blood of Dawnwalker is intended to tell a self-contained story. Now, as we approach the release of the first chapter, we wanted to share a little more about our larger vision and hint at where the story will ultimately lead.” explains Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, Game Director and co-founder of Rebel Wolves.
The gameplay shown in the historical Carpathian setting looks incredibly atmospheric and delivers exactly what dark fantasy fans need after the long drought. However, the radical leap into modern times for the sequels seems extremely risky at first glance and could immediately destroy the painstakingly built atmosphere. The plan is certainly bold. Let's hope the studio doesn't bite off more than it can chew with this monumental historical concept.
What do you think of the massive franchise plan: Does the dark 14th century appeal to you, or does the announced leap into modernity put you off?
