The Blood of Dawnwalker: Introducing a Unique Game Mechanic
Former Witcher 3 Director Teases Protagonist's Day-and-Night Abilities and Limitations
Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, the former director of The Witcher 3 and founder of Rebel Wolves, has unveiled an innovative game mechanic for their upcoming title, The Blood of Dawnwalker. This new studio, which includes former members of the Witcher 3 team, is pushing the boundaries with a protagonist who embodies the duality of human and vampire traits.
In an insightful interview with PC Gamer, Tomaszkiewicz discussed the challenge of crafting a narrative distinct from the typical superhero arcs seen in movies like those from Marvel. "It’s hard to do those stories because you are just stronger and stronger and stronger," he remarked. "So I searched for an idea for the hero, which would be near the ground—or grounded—and needed to solve things in a different way. But, also, I wanted to give some kind of superhero to the players."
Tomaszkiewicz introduced Coen, the protagonist of The Blood of Dawnwalker, who lives a dual life. By day, Coen is bound by human limitations, but as night falls, he taps into his vampiric heritage, gaining supernatural powers. This mechanic draws inspiration from well-known pop culture tropes like Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, yet it remains unexplored in video games.
"It’s somehow interesting, this duality of the hero, which we know from Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde, for example. It’s something in pop culture that is well known and wasn’t explored yet in games," Tomaszkiewicz explained. "It gives you a different layer to those non-realities, and I think it would be quite interesting because nobody yet has done that. And we will see how people will like it."
This unique mechanic not only adds depth to the gameplay but also introduces strategic elements. Players might find it advantageous to engage enemies at night, especially those that are not vampires, and rely more on wit and strategy during the day when Coen's vampiric powers are dormant.
Witcher 3’s Ex-Design Director Also Revealed “Time-as-a-Resource” Mechanic
Adding another layer of complexity, Daniel Sadowski, the former design director of The Witcher 3, revealed a "time-as-a-resource" mechanic during an interview with PC Gamer on January 16, 2025. This feature forces players to make strategic decisions about which quests to pursue, as the game's narrative is tied to a time system.
"It will definitely force you to make choices at some points, like what to do, and what to ignore, because you will also have to choose which content you want to do, and which content you want to ignore, in order to maximise your chances of defeating the main enemy," Sadowski explained. "But you will be able to choose between different ways to approach the problem, and that all ties into the narrative sandbox again."
Players will need to carefully consider the impact of their choices on future missions and character relationships. While this mechanic imposes restrictions, Sadowski believes it enhances the gaming experience by making players more conscious of their decisions. "Knowing that the time you have is limited could really help crystalize what you're going to do, and why your version of the game's protagonist, Coen, is doing it."
With these two innovative mechanics, The Blood of Dawnwalker promises a deeply engaging and strategic gameplay experience where every action and inaction can significantly influence the narrative.
