Bandai Namco to Publish New Dark Fantasy RPG

Elden Ring publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment has signed a publishing deal with Rebel Wolves for the studio's debut Action RPG, Dawnwalker.

Rebel Wolves and Bandai Sign Partnership for “Dawnwalker” SagaMore Dawnwalker Reveals Expected In The Coming Months

Rebel Wolves, the Polish studio founded by The Witcher 3’s game and art directors, has signed a deal with Elden Ring publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment, as announced at the start of the week. Bandai becomes the global publisher of Rebel Wolves' upcoming debut title in the “Dawnwalker” Action RPG saga, which will launch sometime in 2025 on PC, PS5, and Xbox.

Dawnwalker is a story-driven AAA action-RPG set in medieval Europe, featuring dark fantasy elements for mature audiences. More information about Dawnwalker is expected to be revealed by Rebel Wolves in the coming months. Established in 2022 in Warsaw, Poland, the studio aims to bring RPG "to the next level" with its story-driven approach to games.

"Rebel Wolves is a new studio built upon solid foundations: a combination of experience and fresh energy. Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, a company known for its dedication to the role-playing genre and willingness to engage with new IPs, is a perfect match for our wolfpack," Rebel Wolves chief publishing officer Tomasz Tinc said in its press release. "Not only does it share our values, but also its track record in publishing narrative-driven RPGs speaks for itself. We're looking forward to working with them to bring the first chapter of the Dawnwalker saga to gamers worldwide."

Bandai Namco stated that it considers Dawnwalker as a great addition to its game portfolio, with business development VP Alberto Gonzalez Lorca saying, "This is another key milestone in our content development strategy for the Western market. By combining our strengths, we will deliver this first game of the studio to a worldwide audience."

Having joined Rebel Wolves early this year, Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, a CDPR veteran who served as the lead quest designer on The Witcher 3, helms the studio as creative director. Dawnwalker has been confirmed to be based on a new franchise by Rebel Wolves' co-founder and narrative director Jakub Szamalek, who worked as a writer for over 9 years at CDPR. Moreover, the scope of the game is expected to be similar to The Witcher 3's Blood and Wine expansion, as well as telling a more non-linear narrative.

"We aim to deliver an experience that will allow for a variety of choices and room for experimentation when replayed. Helping craft this experience with so many talented people will be my mission at Rebel Wolves, and I can’t wait for everyone to see what the team has been up to for quite a while now," Tomaszkiewicz stated earlier in the year.