“A Privilege Beyond Words” – The Blood of Dawnwalker Publishing Chief Calls Four Golden Joystick Nominations a “Remarkable Experience” After Debut RPG Finishes Second in Two Categories

The Blood of Dawnwalker may not have won at the Golden Joystick Awards, but Rebel Wolves is celebrating the recognition it received alongside some of the industry’s biggest releases. Tomasz Tinc, the studio’s chief publishing officer and co-owner, described the experience as a “remarkable” achievement for a developer making its first game.

In a post on X, Tinc congratulated the nominees, winners, and developers whose games launched over the past year. He also highlighted the RPG’s performance across three major categories. The Blood of Dawnwalker finished second in Best Storytelling behind Dispatch, second in Best PC Game of the Year behind Crimson Desert, and fifth in Ultimate Game of the Year, which was won by Resident Evil Requiem.

The game received four nominations in total, including recognition for Will’s performance as Coen.

Debut RPG Competes Against Established Franchises

The results placed Rebel Wolves’ debut project alongside major releases from experienced studios. Rather than expressing disappointment over the losses, Tinc focused on what the nominations meant for a relatively new developer.

He called it

“an incredible honor to witness my fellow Rebel Wolves making this magic happen,”

adding that the recognition was

“a privilege beyond words.”

The competition included Dispatch for Best Storytelling, Crimson Desert for Best PC Game of the Year, and Resident Evil Requiem for the top award. Each category featured strong competition, making the RPG’s placements a notable achievement for the studio.

Tinc also highlighted the importance of celebrating other creators, particularly during a difficult period for the games industry. Referencing presenter Alix Wilton Regan’s remarks, he said that seeing developers applaud one another and celebrate their work was especially encouraging.

The Blood of Dawnwalker is a dark fantasy action RPG set in the 14th-century Carpathian Mountains. Players take control of Coen, a young man who becomes a vampire and has a limited amount of time to save his family. Rebel Wolves was founded by industry veterans, including developers who previously worked on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

For the studio, four nominations at its first major release mark meaningful recognition, even without a Golden Joystick victory.