By The Blood of Dawnwalker creative director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz mentions that – unlike his previous directorial work in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – you will likely have the opportunity to eliminate random NPCs, as vampires generally do, and some of these characters are even significant figures.
“It’s a sandbox, which means we aim to expand your options and choices within the game,” Tomaszkiewicz explained regarding his vampire-themed project, developed with a variety of CD Projekt Red veterans at his new studio, Riot Wolves, in an interview with GamesRadar+. “However, the focus isn’t solely on gameplay. We wanted to leverage our strengths, as our previous projects emphasized narrative, compelling storytelling, engaging characters, and a wealth of lore to discover.”
Riot Wolves is not necessarily holding back on providing players ample choice while narrating the story it wants to tell. “It’s not completely limitless options, as we do have a defined character you control, Coen, who possesses his own personality and background, but within that characterization, we’re striving to offer you the chance to mold your own version of Coen.” Tomaszkiewicz refers to the game as a “narrative sandbox” since quests can branch out and evolve in various ways. “For instance, we allow you to eliminate many NPCs, and several of them can be significantly important NPCs.” I wonder if this potential for VIP casualties will occur while you roam the open world, or if it will be restricted to crucial moments in the narrative.
“At times, this can result in different outcomes or even cut off certain quest lines,” he elaborated. “And this ties into our other mechanics […] being a Dawnwalker means you experience this blood thirst at night, which can indeed lead to these NPCs perishing if you aren’t cautious.” It appears that your rampages will carry a bit more weight.