Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, the director behind The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, has embarked on a bold new journey with The Blood of Dawnwalker, an open-world vampire RPG developed by his studio, Rebel Wolves.
The game, which promises to bend the traditional rules of RPGs, was deemed too “risky” to create under the constraints of a larger studio like CD Projekt Red (CDPR).
A New Studio, A New Vision
Tomaszkiewicz left CDPR to found Rebel Wolves, a smaller studio composed of CDPR veterans. He explained that the decision was driven by a desire to innovate and take creative risks.
“We had crazy ideas,” he told PC Gamer. “We knew that if we wanted to make them, we needed to open our own studio because it would be hard to convince any big company—with non-IP—to change and do something new, something crazy.”
The Blood of Dawnwalker follows the story of a young man transformed into a Dawnwalker, a hybrid of human and vampire. The game’s dark, atmospheric tone and unique premise have already captured the attention of RPG fans, despite limited gameplay footage.
Why Smaller Teams Work Better
Tomaszkiewicz emphasized the advantages of working with a smaller team. “I felt that a smaller team is capable of doing more because the communication inside the team is easier,” he said. “It’s easier to speak about the vision, to feel the creative fire, and to do something special.”
This streamlined approach allows Rebel Wolves to experiment with new mechanics and storytelling techniques that might not fit within the structure of a larger studio. Tomaszkiewicz believes that RPGs have room to evolve, and The Blood of Dawnwalker is his attempt to push the genre forward.
No Bad Blood with CDPR
Despite parting ways with CDPR, Tomaszkiewicz maintains a positive relationship with his former colleagues. A group of current CDPR developers recently expressed their support for Rebel Wolves and The Blood of Dawnwalker, noting that the games share a “lineage and values.”
While Tomaszkiewicz won’t be involved in The Witcher 4, his new project represents a fresh chapter in his career—one defined by creative freedom and a willingness to take risks.
What’s Next for The Blood of Dawnwalker?
With its stunning reveal trailer and ambitious vision, The Blood of Dawnwalker has quickly become one of the most anticipated RPGs in development.
Fans eagerly await more details about gameplay and release timelines as Rebel Wolves continues to refine its dark, immersive world.
For now, one thing is clear: Konrad Tomaszkiewicz and his team are determined to prove that smaller studios can deliver groundbreaking experiences. The Blood of Dawnwalker may just be the proof.
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