THE CRUNCH
Rebel Wolves' upcoming game, The Blood of Dawnwalker, reportedly cost around $40 million to develop, according to Bloomberg. The studio, founded by former CD Projekt Red developers, self-funded the first year before NetEase stepped in with the budget and a 26% stake. The team has grown to about 160 people, and the game is set to launch in September. Despite the relatively modest budget, the title has already sold 1.1
The budget puts the project in the AA category, comparable to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. The figure covers development costs only, so marketing and publishing expenses are not included. The director, Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, kept the game's foundations the same as the original pitch deck to avoid scope creep. The studio also adjusted its release date from June to September to prevent overtime for staff.
The game's commercial performance has been strong, with over 1 million copies sold within days of launch. This success has already led Rebel Wolves to begin hiring for a sequel. The studio's ability to deliver a well-received game on a budget of $40 million is considered a significant achievement. The funding structure, with NetEase providing the capital, allowed the studio to focus on development without the pressure of a large publisher.