“We Are Rebels. We Don’t Want to Follow Trends” – The Blood of Dawnwalker Studio Rebel Wolves Says It Makes Games Its Developers Actually Want to Play

Rebel Wolves, the Polish studio behind The Blood of Dawnwalker, says it wants to create games based on its developers’ creative vision rather than follow changing industry trends. During a media visit to its studio on October 20, 2026, the team discussed its development philosophy, workplace practices, and plans to expand its dark fantasy franchise.

According to Korean gaming publication Inven, the studio emphasized that its goal is to make role-playing games its own team would genuinely enjoy playing. The presentation also covered how Rebel Wolves incorporates player feedback, approaches game development with a relatively small team, and builds stories around meaningful player decisions.

The studio’s philosophy dates back to its founding in 2022. Led by Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, the former game director of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Rebel Wolves began with approximately 20 developers and grew to around 166 employees, according to Inven’s report.

Rebel Wolves Wants Creative Freedom Instead of Industry Pressure

During the presentation, a marketing representative explained why the studio was established, saying,

“We wanted to create an environment where we could focus entirely on the project itself without being driven by stock market pressure or tight deadlines.”

The representative also reinforced the team’s independent-minded philosophy with a clear statement:

“We are rebels. We don’t want to follow trends. We want to make games that we ourselves want to play and enjoy.”

Rather than treating market trends as a blueprint for its projects, Rebel Wolves wants to preserve its creative direction while developing story-driven, single-player RPGs. Its approach also includes a flexible working environment, with employees able to choose between remote, office-based, and hybrid arrangements.

According to Inven, the studio holds meetings every two weeks to share updates about the company and its projects. The team considers internal communication and information sharing important parts of maintaining development efficiency.

The Blood of Dawnwalker Reflects the Studio’s Design Philosophy

Rebel Wolves’ debut RPG puts that philosophy into practice through a story that changes according to player decisions. Set in a fictional region of the 14th-century Carpathian Mountains, The Blood of Dawnwalker follows Coen, who lives as a human by day and gains vampire abilities at night.

Players have 30 days and nights to attempt to rescue Coen’s kidnapped family. However, failing to complete the rescue does not simply end the adventure. Instead, the story can shift toward revenge, while decisions about alliances and important characters influence how the journey unfolds.

The studio also connects quests to the central narrative rather than treating them as disconnected activities. As the marketing representative explained,

“Every activity connects back to the core story.”

The developers want players to feel that their decisions help shape their own version of the adventure.

This approach is also reflected in the game’s day-and-night mechanics. Coen’s available abilities and ways of resolving encounters change depending on the time of day. His vampire nature introduces additional risks, since failing to control his bloodlust can affect conversations and quest progression.

The game launched on September 3, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with Bandai Namco Entertainment handling publishing. The publisher’s official announcement confirms the game’s release and its emphasis on choices and consequences.

Player Feedback and Future Plans

Although Rebel Wolves wants to preserve its original creative vision, it has also adjusted gameplay based on player feedback. According to Inven, the team introduced options to change the combat camera distance and simplify combat controls.

The studio is also planning Photo Mode and New Game Plus functionality for The Blood of Dawnwalker. Beyond these additions, Rebel Wolves intends to expand the franchise with further installments exploring different periods, locations, and characters. In its official announcement about the Dawnwalker saga, the studio outlined plans for a wider story spanning different eras and cultures.

For Rebel Wolves, the challenge ahead is to maintain its creative approach while expanding the franchise. Its stated priority remains developing RPGs shaped by its team’s ideas and the choices players make, rather than simply reproducing whatever happens to be popular in the industry.