Developer Rebel Wolves has deployed a new hotfix, version 1.04, for its dark fantasy role-playing game, The Blood of Dawnwalker, aiming to resolve a range of technical issues reported by players since its recent launch. The update targets stability problems, quest progression blockers, game-saving errors, and specific controller-related performance drops.
Addressing Controller and Stability Woes
The hotfix specifically addresses a frame-rate issue that occurred when plugging in a controller, which was attributed to outdated GameInput software on Windows. Adjustments have also been made to controller dead zones to prevent unwanted input when sprinting. These fixes follow a previous weekend hotfix that introduced formal DualSense controller support on Steam and GOG, though it remains unclear if that earlier patch resolved issues with dialogue and inventory navigation jumping when using a controller.
Rebel Wolves has stated that "multiple improvements to the game's stability" have been implemented. However, player requests for uncapped frame-rates in cutscenes and broader performance optimizations across various resolutions and graphics cards are not yet addressed in this update. Previous patches did attempt to improve performance in borderless and windowed modes.
The studio has committed to ongoing improvements, stating in a Steam post for a prior hotfix, "We will continue to make improvements so that you can enjoy The Blood of Dawnwalker more comfortably. Thank you for your support and patience."
Gameplay and Quest Fixes
Beyond stability and controller input, the 1.04 hotfix includes numerous gameplay and quest bug fixes. These range from resolving issues that blocked tutorial progress, prevented players from getting stuck in certain in-game locations, and enabled dialogue with NPCs under specific circumstances. It also fixes an issue that disabled blocking under certain conditions and corrected problems that prevented players from saving their game.
Several quest-specific bugs have been ironed out, including issues that caused NPCs to behave incorrectly during combat or dialogue, prevented enemies from spawning, or prematurely ended quest objectives. Problems that led to infinite loading screens or soft-locks after following specific characters have also been addressed. Some quests have seen adjustments to difficulty display or optional objective changes to improve player experience.
Art and Audio Polish
Visual and audio elements have also received attention. The update ensures that characters will properly animate drinking from cups, even on lower graphical settings, and notes the removal of an improperly used art asset. Audio issues, such as music stopping in the prologue, have been fixed.
Miscellaneous and PC-Specific Updates
Platform-specific fixes are included, such as the Steam-only patch to prevent FPS drops when connecting controllers with outdated software. A peculiar bug involving uncontrollable torch growth has been rectified. Furthermore, issues preventing the proper application of Quality preset mods on PC have been resolved, along with VSync problems when using FSR Frame Generation.
Sequel Development Rumors
In parallel with the patching efforts, Rebel Wolves has been seen advertising for a lead writer to contribute to a Blood of Dawnwalker sequel. This aligns with prior statements from studio co-founder Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, who expressed interest in continuing the story of vampire hero Coen through further historical adventures and potentially allowing players to carry over saved game data. The game, which released last week, has already achieved over one million sales, indicating a strong reception and a significant overlap with the audience for titles like The Witcher.