Blood of Dawnwalker Human-by-Day and Vampire-by-Night Mechanic Detailed by Director

Discover the innovative game mechanics of The Blood of Dawnwalker, where the protagonist, Coen, navigates dual identities as a human by day and a vampire by night. Dive into the details shared by the game's creators, including the former director of The Witcher 3.

The Blood of Dawnwalker: Introducing a Unique Game Mechanic

Former Witcher 3 Director Teases Protagonist's Day-and-Night Abilities and Limitations

Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, former director of The Witcher 3 and founder of Rebel Wolves, has introduced a groundbreaking game mechanic in The Blood of Dawnwalker. This mechanic explores the dual nature of the protagonist, Coen, who embodies the essence of a half-human, half-vampire. Rebel Wolves, a new studio with members from the Witcher 3 team, aims to bring fresh gameplay elements to the gaming world.

In an interview with PC Gamer, Tomaszkiewicz discussed the challenge of creating a narrative that diverges from the typical superhero progression seen in mainstream media. "It’s hard to do those stories because you are just stronger and stronger and stronger," he noted. "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."

To address this, Tomaszkiewicz crafted a protagonist whose abilities fluctuate with the time of day. By day, Coen is vulnerable with human weaknesses, but by night, he harnesses supernatural powers derived from his vampiric blood. This duality, reminiscent of stories like Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, adds a new layer to the gaming experience, offering players a novel approach to gameplay that has yet to be fully explored 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 remarked. "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 mechanic not only introduces new opportunities but also imposes limitations on players. Combat strategies may shift depending on the time of day, with nighttime offering an advantage against non-vampire enemies. During the day, players may need to rely more on strategy and intelligence to overcome challenges without the aid of their vampiric powers.

Witcher 3’s Ex-Design Director Also Revealed “Time-as-a-Resource” Mechanic

Daniel Sadowski, former design director of The Witcher 3, unveiled another innovative mechanic for The Blood of Dawnwalker in an interview with PC Gamer on January 16, 2025. Known as the "time-as-a-resource" mechanic, this feature ties quests to a time system, forcing players to make strategic decisions about which quests to pursue.

"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 maximize 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."

Under this system, players must carefully consider the timing of their actions, as each decision can impact future missions and character relationships. While this mechanic may seem restrictive, Sadowski believes it enhances the player's engagement by making every choice significant. "Knowing that the time you have is limited could really help crystallize what you're going to do, and why your version of the game's protagonist, Coen, is doing it."

With these two mechanics in place, The Blood of Dawnwalker promises a deeply immersive experience where every action and inaction can shape the narrative, making each playthrough uniquely compelling.