Rebel Wolves has lifted the curtain on how its dark fantasy RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker will run on Xbox Series X, and the reveal comes with a catch that’s already sparking conversation among console players. The studio’s freshly posted gameplay footage showcases two distinct graphical modes for Microsoft’s flagship console — but neither one manages to reach the coveted 60FPS benchmark.
What the New Xbox Series X Footage Shows
The gameplay trailer, which Pure Xbox conveniently timestamped to jump straight to the performance specifications, breaks down the two modes Xbox players can choose from when the game launches. As is common with modern console releases, one mode prioritizes visual fidelity and richer graphical detail, while the second trades some of that polish for improved frame delivery. However, even the performance-focused option falls short of a full 60 frames per second, capping out below the smoothness standard that many gamers now consider baseline for current-gen hardware.
For players who own displays supporting VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), the sub-60 frame rates may feel more stable in practice than the raw numbers suggest. Still, anyone hoping for a buttery-smooth 60FPS action RPG experience on Xbox Series X will need to temper expectations — or look toward the PC version for uncapped performance.
A Debut From Witcher Veterans
The absence of a 60FPS mode may sting a little more given the pedigree behind the project. Rebel Wolves is a studio founded by veteran developers from CD Projekt Red, including Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, who served as game director on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The Blood of Dawnwalker serves as the studio’s debut title — a narrative-driven, dark medieval fantasy steeped in vampire lore, and the opening chapter of a planned saga. Published by Bandai Namco, the game has drawn steady comparisons to The Witcher series thanks to its grim atmosphere and choice-heavy storytelling.
The Bigger Picture: Frame Rates in Modern RPGs
This isn’t the first ambitious open-world RPG to forgo a 60FPS option on consoles, and it likely won’t be the last. Sprawling, detail-rich worlds with dynamic lighting, dense foliage, and complex AI are notoriously demanding, and developers sometimes decide that locked, consistent frame rates with higher visual targets serve the experience better than chasing 60FPS at the cost of heavy compromises.
For a story-first RPG like The Blood of Dawnwalker, that philosophy is defensible — cinematic presentation arguably matters more than twitch-responsive combat. That said, the console audience has grown increasingly vocal about performance options, and launches without a 60FPS mode routinely become talking points in reviews and community discussions. Rebel Wolves is at least being transparent well ahead of launch, giving players time to decide which mode suits their preferences — or whether to buy on PC instead.
Release Date and Where to Get It
The Blood of Dawnwalker launches on September 3rd for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. If you’re planning to jump into this vampire-infested medieval world on Xbox and need to top up your balance, you can grab Xbox gift cards and game codes at TURGAME.com — a quick and convenient way to fund your next adventure.
Source: Pure Xbox