Dawnwalker Director Emphasizes Prioritizing Game Design Over Sales Goals

The gaming landscape feels as unpredictable as a roulette wheel, with the success of titles often coming down to chance. Even standout games can struggle to find their footing, while unexpected hits—like a quirky Steam game about hide-and-seek with spray paint—can suddenly soar to the top of the sales charts. This uncertainty is why Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, director of The Blood of Dawnwalker, believes that aiming for specific sales targets is a flawed approach.

In a recent interview, the former game director of The Witcher 3, who has since launched his own studio, Rebel Wolves, shared insights about his upcoming vampire RPG. When asked about sales expectations, Tomaszkiewicz emphasized, “First of all, we are not thinking this way. It’s a different mindset because we are artists, and all of us, the founders of the company, are the ones doing the development work.”

He elaborated on the team’s structure, mentioning that he serves as the game director, while his brother takes on the role of creative director, alongside others responsible for coding, art, and narrative. “We don’t want to measure our games in millions of sales. Sure, funding is necessary for future projects, but our focus is on setting challenges and goals that satisfy our artistic and creative aspirations.”

Tomaszkiewicz prefers to gauge success through player and critic feedback rather than sales figures. “If possible, maybe some awards would be fantastic for us as artists,” he noted. “Sales are secondary. I believe that if the game is good, sales will follow. But if you prioritize sales during development and design the game solely to achieve them, it’s likely to fail.”

The Blood of Dawnwalker has a lot going for it, including a compelling concept—a vampire RPG from developers with experience on The Witcher 3—and positive early previews. However, it still faces the challenge of being an AA title in a market that has been increasingly tough for games that fall between low-budget indies and cautious AAA productions. It remains to be seen if Rebel Wolves can carve out a niche in this competitive environment.