Ahead of its September 3 release, The Blood of Dawnwalker is set to launch with a 60fps Performance Mode after developer Rebel Wolves faced backlash over earlier gameplay footage that only showed 30fps and 40fps options.
The controversy began when Rebel Wolves shared a gameplay trailer, since made private, showing console footage for the historical vampire RPG. The video detailed a 30fps Quality Mode and a 40fps Balanced Mode, both targeting a dynamic 4K resolution, but made no mention of a 60fps mode. Fans reacted negatively across YouTube and other platforms, with commenters expressing frustration that a current-gen console game in 2026 would lack a 60fps option, and some suggesting they would buy the PC version instead.
In response, Rebel Wolves announced on X on August 24 that a Performance Mode targeting 60fps would be included on PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X through the day-one launch patch. The studio said the mode had already been in development but was still being tested at the time of the original trailer. 'We simply weren't ready to promise it yet,' the studio said, adding that fan feedback made clear how much the feature mattered and pushed the team to finish testing in time to confirm it for day one.
With the update, console players will be able to choose between three settings: Quality Mode (30fps), Balanced Mode (40fps), and the new Performance Mode (60fps). The PS5 Pro version of Performance Mode will also include additional overall visual enhancements. Xbox Series S will not receive the 60fps option and remains capped at 30fps.
Coverage of the reversal noted that the original console trailer has since been set to private, though a version remains viewable on IGN's channel, where comments reflected the same frustration over frame rates. One outlet observed that day-one patches for games can be inconsistent, raising some uncertainty about how the Performance Mode will perform at launch, while noting that Rebel Wolves' team previously worked on The Witcher 3, a game that also received a later 60fps update on consoles.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is scheduled to release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on September 3.