The Blood of Dawnwalker has deployed Hotfix 1.0.4 on Steam, bringing a substantial list of stability improvements, quest progression fixes, and a long-awaited resolution for controller-related FPS drops. Released on September 9, 2026 under build 25191761, the update follows hotfixes 1.0.2 and 1.0.3 in rapid succession, showing Rebel Wolves is committed to smoothing out the PC experience. The patch also addresses bizarre issues like uncontrollable torch growth and missing music in the prologue, while fixing a game-saving bug that could halt progress entirely.
What Hotfix 1.0.4 Fixes in The Blood of Dawnwalker
The update covers seven categories: stability, gameplay, quests, art, audio, miscellaneous, and plugin. The headline fixes include improved overall stability, a resolution for quest progression blockers, and a fix for an issue that prevented players from saving the game. Connecting controllers with outdated GameInput software no longer causes FPS drops, and torches can no longer grow uncontrollably. The patch also resolves VSync problems when using FSR Frame Generation.
| Category | Key Fixes |
|---|---|
| Stability | Multiple improvements to overall game stability |
| Gameplay | Tutorial progress blocked by fast Voracious Bite use; Coen getting stuck in houses; blocking disabled under certain circumstances; game-saving blocked |
| Quests | Ocha attacking Coen; stuck in cave during “Deep Down”; Murohn not spawning; “Hive and Seek” ending prematurely; infinite loading in “On the Run”; difficulty display in “A Lone Wolf’s Hunt”; soft-lock after following Sara; optional rag investigation in “Smoke and Ashes”; blocker in “The Heart Wants What It Wants” |
| Art | Coen and Iorgu drink from cups on low settings; removed an unintended red pipe asset |
| Audio | Music no longer stops playing in the prologue |
| Miscellaneous | GameInput FPS drops fixed; torch growth fixed; Quality preset mods apply properly |
| Plugin | VSync fixed with FSR Frame Generation |
Why the Quest and Saving Fixes Matter Most
Hotfix 1.0.4 tackles several hard blockers that could ruin a playthrough. The inability to save the game was the most severe, as it could force players to lose hours of progress. The tutorial soft-lock involving Voracious Bite punished players for using an ability too quickly, an easy mistake for newcomers. Coen getting stuck inside houses with no exit stranded players in geometry. The “Deep Down” cave stuck and the “On the Run” infinite loading both halted main story progression. The “Hive and Seek” premature ending and “The Heart Wants What It Wants” blocker cut off questlines entirely. Dead NPCs starting dialogues and Crake being unable to talk during training were smaller but still broke immersion and sequence logic.
Controller FPS Drops and FSR VSync Resolved
The FPS drop caused by outdated GameInput software was a widespread complaint on PC. GameInput is a Microsoft API that handles input devices, and older versions can conflict with modern games, causing stuttering when a controller is connected. This patch ensures that no longer happens. Separately, VSync issues with FSR Frame Generation have been fixed. FSR Frame Generation inserts interpolated frames to boost perceived performance, and VSync must synchronize properly to avoid tearing or stutter. The fix makes the combination usable.
The Curious Case of the Uncontrollable Torches
Among the serious fixes, one stands out for its absurdity: torches can no longer grow uncontrollably. This suggests a scaling or transform bug where torch models would expand indefinitely, potentially filling rooms or clipping through geometry. It is the kind of glitch that becomes a meme, and its removal shows the patch covers both game-breaking and visual oddities. The same category removed an unintended red pipe asset and ensured Coen and Iorgu drink from cups even on low graphical settings, a small but telling fix for immersion.
What This Means for The Blood of Dawnwalker’s Post-Launch Support
Three hotfixes in one week—1.0.2 on September 3, 1.0.3 with DualSense support, and 1.0.4 on September 9—demonstrate unusually fast turnaround for a debut studio. The game sold over one million copies in 48 hours and peaked at 70,692 concurrent players on Steam. Despite a “Mostly Positive” reception with 83% of over 12,000 reviews favoring it, performance issues and missing features like New Game+ remain common complaints. The 30-day time limit mechanic has been widely praised, but technical jank has held back a portion of the audience. These patches directly address that feedback.
The Blood of Dawnwalker 1.0.4 Patch Notes
Highlights:
- Improved the game’s stability.
- Fixed several issues that blocked quest progression.
- Fixed an issue that blocked players from saving the game.
- Connecting controllers with the outdated GameInput software should no longer cause FPS drops.
- Torches can no longer grow uncontrollably.
Full list of changes:
Stability
- Multiple improvements to the game’s stability.
Gameplay
- Fixed an issue that blocked the tutorial progress if Voracious Bite was used a bit too fast.
- Fixed issues that caused Coen to get stuck inside certain houses with no way of getting out.
- Crake can now talk to Coen even during his training sequence.
- Dead NPCs can no longer start dialogues.
- Fixed an issue that disabled blocking under certain circumstances.
- Fixed an issue that blocked players from saving the game.
Quests
- Ocha will no longer attack Coen when attacked by guards.
- Fixed an issue that caused Coen to get stuck in a cave in the “Deep Down” quest.
- Fixed an issue that caused Murohn to not spawn under certain circumstances.
- Fixed an issue that caused one of the possible solutions for the “Hive and Seek” quest to end prematurely.
- Progressing the “On the Run” quest no longer causes infinite loading.
- “A Lone Wolf’s Hunt” now appropriately shows the difficulty level.
- Fixed an issue that caused a soft-lock after following Sara.
- Investigating the rag is now optional in the “Smoke and Ashes” quest.
- Fixed an issue that caused a blocker in “The Heart Wants What It Wants” quest.
Art
- Coen and Iorgu will now drink from their cups even on low graphical settings.
- We are no longer using that one red pipe asset we weren’t supposed to use.
Audio
- Fixed issues that caused music to stop playing in the prologue.
Miscellaneous
- Connecting controllers with the outdated GameInput software should no longer cause FPS drops.
- Torches can no longer grow uncontrollably.
- Fixed an issue that prevented Quality preset mods from applying properly.
Plugin
- Fixed issues with VSync when using FSR Frame Generation.
What to Expect Next for The Blood of Dawnwalker
Hotfix 1.0.4 resolves many of the most frustrating blockers, but several known issues from previous patch notes may still linger. Stuttering in Windowed or Borderless mode, shader compilation crashes on certain Intel CPUs, and full PS5 controller remapping on PC were not listed as fixed here. Players should continue running the game in Full Screen, keep BIOS updated, and watch for further patches. Rebel Wolves has already posted a job listing for a lead writer on the next chapter of the Dawnwalker Saga, confirming the franchise is moving forward. The speed of these updates suggests the studio will keep refining the experience. For now, the game is in a far more stable state than at launch, and the core loop—managing 30 days and nights to save Coen’s family—remains the standout reason to play.
