The Blood of Dawnwalker hits 40fps on consoles, skips 60fps mode at launch
Rebel Wolves and publisher Bandai Namco have confirmed that The Blood of Dawnwalker will not offer a 60 frames per second performance mode on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S when it launches on 3rd September. Instead, the open-world dark fantasy RPG will feature two graphical modes on current-gen consoles, both of which top out at 40fps.
The news comes from a five-minute console gameplay trailer released by the developer, which details the technical options available to players. On Xbox Series X, the game will offer a "Quality" mode and a "Performance" mode. Eurogamer reports that neither mode targets 60fps, with the upper limit set at 40fps for both. The trailer also shows that the Xbox Series S version will run at 30fps, though it is not yet clear whether that platform will have multiple graphical settings.
The decision to cap the frame rate at 40fps is unusual for a major console release in 2026. Most AAA action RPGs target either 30fps for visual fidelity or 60fps for smoother gameplay, often offering both as selectable options. A 40fps target sits between those two standards, and is typically associated with displays that support a 120Hz refresh rate, where the frame rate divides evenly into the screen's refresh cycle. This approach can deliver a smoother visual experience than 30fps without requiring the same graphical compromises as a 60fps target.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is the debut title from Rebel Wolves, a studio founded by former CD Projekt Red developers who worked on The Witcher 3. The game is set in a dark fantasy world where players take on the role of a dawnwalker, a being caught between human and vampire, navigating a morally complex narrative. The open-world structure is said to emphasise player choice and consequence, with a day-night cycle that affects both gameplay and story events.
Console performance and visual settings
The two modes on Xbox Series X and PS5 appear to differ primarily in resolution and graphical detail. The Quality mode is expected to prioritise higher resolution and more detailed textures, shadows, and lighting effects, while the Performance mode aims for a steadier frame rate at a lower resolution. Both are locked to 40fps, according to the trailer's specifications. Purexbox notes that the Xbox Series X footage shows the game running in Performance mode, with the frame rate capped at 40fps.
The lack of a 60fps option may disappoint some players, particularly those who have come to expect higher frame rates from modern console action games. However, the 40fps target, when paired with a 120Hz display, can offer a noticeable improvement over 30fps without the performance cost of a full 60fps. It remains to be seen whether the developer will add a 60fps mode in a post-launch update, or if the engine's current optimisation limits the frame rate on console hardware.
The game's release date of 3rd September places it in a busy window for role-playing games, and its technical profile will be scrutinised alongside other titles launching around the same time. The Blood of Dawnwalker is also due on PC, where frame rates will naturally vary depending on hardware, but the console versions will be judged on the experience they deliver out of the box.
Rebel Wolves has not commented on whether the 40fps cap is a deliberate design choice or a limitation of the current build. The studio has focused its marketing on the game's narrative and world design, with the console trailer emphasising combat, exploration, and character interactions rather than technical specifications. For now, players on PS5 and Xbox Series X will have to decide whether a steady 40fps is sufficient, or whether they will wait for potential performance improvements after launch.