"The Blood of Dawnwalker" is set to receive a major announcement in early October, but it's not the confirmed sequel yet.
According to the reports, the upcoming patch will introduce several gameplay changes based on player feedback. In this update, a new difficulty option. It will also adjust combat targeting, camera behavior, and how players escape battles.
A New Story Difficulty Is Coming
Game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz discussed the upcoming changes with Eurogamer. He also confirmed that Rebel Wolves is considering a New Game Plus mode. The studio is also looking at the possibility of adding new enemies.
One of the biggest changes is a new difficulty level designed for players who want an easier combat experience.
Rebel Wolves believes the existing Duelist difficulty already offers enough challenge. The studio now wants to give players more freedom to focus on the game's story.
The current Story mode will be renamed. A new Story difficulty will then become the easiest setting in the game.
This option is aimed at players who are more interested in the narrative than demanding combat. It should allow them to move through encounters with fewer difficulties.
Combat Targeting Will Be Adjusted
The October update will also change the game's combat targeting system.
One issue involves the way targets can change after players use certain stun-like abilities. The mechanic was originally intentional.
Tomaszkiewicz explained that the team wanted players to switch targets after stunning an enemy. However, feedback from players convinced Rebel Wolves to reconsider the system.
Under the revised approach, three hits will be required to remove the stun. The developers will then observe how the new system performs and how players respond.
Escaping Enemies Should Feel Better
Running away from enemies is another area receiving attention.
Rebel Wolves found that players could struggle with scenery and navigation while trying to escape combat. The developers identified the problem through gameplay streams and feedback from the community.
The studio plans to change movement during combat. Players should be able to run more freely without becoming caught by the game's navigation system.
Animals will also receive behavior changes. They will no longer automatically catch players who quickly move past them while using wolf form or witch-sprint mode.
Performance Improvements Are Planned
Performance is another priority for the October patch.
Rebel Wolves has already released smaller hotfixes. More improvements are expected with the larger update.
Tomaszkiewicz noted that PC performance can be difficult to optimize because of the huge number of hardware combinations used by players.
The development team is collecting hardware information. It is also using player reports to identify performance problems and determine where improvements are needed.
Apparently, we just recently reported that the signature time limit of "The Blood of Dawnwalker" may not make it in the sequel.
New Game Plus Could Be Next
Rebel Wolves is also exploring a New Game Plus mode for "The Blood of Dawnwalker."
Tomaszkiewicz confirmed that the feature is being considered. However, the studio has not revealed how it would work or when it could arrive.
The developers are also discussing the possibility of introducing new enemies. The game director did not provide further details about that idea.
'The Blood of the Dawnwalker' October Patch Will Be Massive
The upcoming "Blood of Dawnwalker" update will include more changes than those currently announced. Tomaszkiewicz indicated that the team still has plenty of work underway.
While we're a few weeks away from the big patch, you can read our latest game guide on how to complete the Distant Shadows optional quest.
