Rebel Wolves has reversed course on one of the most contentious issues surrounding its upcoming vampire RPG, The Blood of Dawnwalker. After initially revealing only 30fps and 40fps options for the console versions of the game, the studio has now confirmed that a 60fps Performance Mode will be available on PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X when the game launches on September 3rd. The announcement comes after a wave of criticism from players who were disappointed by the omission of a higher framerate option on current-gen hardware.
The controversy began when Rebel Wolves shared a detailed console performance breakdown that outlined just two graphical modes: a Quality Mode running at 30fps with dynamic 4K resolution and a Balanced Mode targeting 40fps, also at dynamic 4K. The original trailer showcasing these specs was eventually taken down as negative feedback mounted. For many players, the absence of a 60fps option on consoles that have been on the market for years felt like an unacceptable shortcoming, especially for a fast-paced action RPG.
According to the developer’s statement shared on social media, the Performance Mode had already been in development but wasn’t far enough along in testing for the team to feel comfortable announcing it. “We heard your feedback. It was clear how much this mattered to many of you, so we focused on finishing the next round of tests,” the studio explained. “Those results gave us the confidence we needed to confirm Performance Mode for Day one.” The mode will arrive as part of a day-one patch.
With the addition, console players will now have three distinct options: Performance at 60fps, Balanced at 40fps, and Quality at 30fps. The PS5 Pro version will also benefit from overall visual enhancements compared to the standard PS5 and Xbox Series X builds. Xbox Series S owners, however, will be limited to a single 30fps mode due to the console’s lower hardware specifications. As GameSpot notes, the specific visual tradeoffs between modes have not yet been detailed, though Performance modes typically reduce graphical fidelity in areas like lighting, particle effects, and environmental detail to maintain a smoother framerate.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is the debut title from Rebel Wolves, a studio founded by several veterans of CD Projekt Red, including The Witcher 3 game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz. Set in a grim medieval world overrun by vampires, the game puts players in the role of a newly turned creature of the night who must build power for a climactic confrontation with the vampire lord Brencis — all within a 30-day in-game time limit that shapes both the narrative and gameplay consequences.
The game is scheduled to release on September 3rd across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Early hands-on impressions have highlighted the game’s ambitious time-pressure mechanics and its emphasis on living with the consequences of player choices, drawing comparisons to the studio’s pedigree with The Witcher series. Whether the day-one Performance Mode patch fully satisfies console players remains to be seen, but the swift response from Rebel Wolves suggests the studio is taking community feedback seriously ahead of its high-profile launch.