Why Konrad Tomaszkiewicz Embraces Comparisons Between The Blood of Dawnwalker and The Witcher 3

In the muddy, war-torn landscapes of 14th-century Europe, where plague still lingers like a shadow, players will recognize the familiar grit of Geralt's world in The Blood of Dawnwalker. This new sandbox vampire RPG features Coen, a half-vampire protagonist who embodies that same "almost human but actually something more" aura found in CD Projekt Red's beloved series. When asked by The Game Business about the inevitable comparisons to his previous masterpiece, The Witcher 3, game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz expressed no discomfort. In fact, he stated confidently: "I feel really confident about our game."

A Legacy of Story-Driven Open Worlds

Konrad Tomaszkiewicz is no stranger to crafting immersive RPGs; his resume includes serving as the story designer on The Witcher, lead quest designer on The Witcher 3, and second director/head of production on Cyberpunk 2077. After founding Rebel Wolves in 2022, he set out to create "story-driven, open world games with some twists." While the setting may feel familiar, Tomaszkiewicz insists that these new elements are crucial for artistic evolution rather than mere replication.

The game introduces several distinct mechanics designed to heighten immersion and emotion:

  • Dynamic Day/Night Cycle: Coen only gains access to his full suite of vampire abilities during the night, fundamentally changing gameplay pacing based on the time of day.
  • Time Pressure Mechanics: Unlike Cyberpunk 2077, which allowed free-roaming after a specific plot point, The Blood of Dawnwalker imposes strict time constraints. Players must choose their side quests wisely to "snack responsibly," as it is impossible to complete every quest in a single playthrough.

Tomaszkiewicz explained that opening a new studio to do exactly the same thing would be detrimental: "Opening a new company to do exactly the same things we did in the past is a problem, because we'll not feel that we're evolving, or developing ourselves." He emphasized that Rebel Wolves aims to push the boundaries of AAA RPGs by incorporating risky features that deepen the player's emotional connection to the world.

The Vision for Rebel Wolves Beyond One Hit

Despite his comfort with The Witcher 3 comparisons—including musical nods that hark back to the original soundtrack—Tomaszkiewicz is clear on one goal: he does not want Rebel Wolves to simply become "the next CD Projekt." Currently employing 160 people, the studio has a specific growth strategy centered around stability rather than unchecked expansion.

His dream for The Blood of Dawnwalker is that its success will fund two additional games at the same scale without requiring a massive workforce increase. "I want Rebel Wolves in 10 years to be exactly the same size," Tomaszkiewicz stated, highlighting his fear that further growth could erode the tight communication and processes that define their current workflow. He acknowledged they might need help in specific areas post-launch, but the core team will remain static to preserve their unique creative environment.

Scheduled for release this year, The Blood of Dawnwalker is available to wishlist on Steam for those eager to track its development progress. As players await Coen's journey through a plague-ridden Europe, the industry watches closely to see if Rebel Wolves can carve out its own legacy while honoring the roots of its director's past successes.