The timer mechanic in Blood of Dawnwalkers may not return in sequels. Game Director Konrad Tomaszewicz stated that the team has yet to make a decision and will choose whether to use the system based on the needs of specific stories in the future.
Developer Rebel Wolves has previously stated its intention to continue releasing games set in this universe. However, it remains unclear whether the timer mechanic will become a staple of the series. Tomaszewicz noted that the team will continue experimenting: if a particular storyline or entire title suits the addition of time pressure, they will adopt it; if not, they won't force the same structure.
In Blood of Dawnwalkers, the protagonist must rescue their family from the main antagonist, the vampire Vransis, within 30 days and 30 nights. Time is divided into segments, and progressing through missions, advancing mission stages, and allocating points to certain skills all advance the timer.
This mechanic does not cause time to pass automatically. Exploring the world or fighting random enemies like wolves does not consume time; only performing specific actions advances the counter. Nevertheless, the system has remained controversial since its announcement: some players do not want to feel urgency in an RPG, while others are unwilling to play through multiple times to see all content. Popular mods for disabling or adjusting the timer are currently available for the PC version.
Tomaszewicz stated that the game has been balanced around the original design, allowing players to experience about 80% of the content even with the timer enabled. He understands the desire to see all content in a single playthrough but considers it unrealistic. Even with the timer disabled, narrative branches and the consequences of choices mean players cannot see Everythinggj in one run, similar to other RPGs like The Witcher.
He also mentioned that there was significant opposition to the timer mechanic when the game first launched, but such feedback has decreased as more players completed the campaign. Some players who finished the game felt that the actual available time was more generous than initially expected. For those who still dislike the timed gameplay, he accepts their choice to disable the mechanic via mods.
In addition to further researching the timer system, Rebel Wolves is exploring other designs that could change the shape of role-playing games. Blood of Dawnwalkers is now available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series platforms, with the full interview scheduled for release early next week.