The Blood of Dawnwalker has rolled out Hotfix 1.0.3 on PC, a small but targeted update that finally brings official DualSense controller support to Steam and GOG. The patch lands just one day after Hotfix 1.0.2, which addressed quest progression blockers and controller dead zone issues. Together, the two updates show Rebel Wolves moving quickly to smooth out the PC experience while a longer list of known issues remains under investigation.
What Hotfix 1.0.3 Changes in The Blood of Dawnwalker
Hotfix 1.0.3 is a single-item update focused entirely on controller compatibility. It adds official DualSense support on Steam and GOG, allowing players to use the PlayStation 5 controller with proper button mapping and functionality. The patch is PC-only and is not live on consoles. The file size is minimal, reflecting the narrow scope of the fix.
| Category | Change |
|---|---|
| Plugin | Added DualSense support on Steam and GOG |
What Hotfix 1.0.2 Fixed the Day Before
Hotfix 1.0.2 arrived on September 3 and tackled three quest-related bugs plus one gameplay adjustment. Coen can now speak with Farkas even after killing all NPCs around him. Lunka no longer gets lost while leading Coen through the tutorial. The Uriashi blacksmith learned to craft a specific holy sword that was previously inaccessible. On the gameplay side, the patch adjusted controller dead zone and input issues while sprinting, again PC-only.
| Category | Fix |
|---|---|
| Quests | Coen can talk to Farkas after killing all surrounding NPCs |
| Quests | Lunka no longer gets lost during the tutorial |
| Quests | Uriashi blacksmith can craft a specific holy sword |
| Gameplay | Controller dead zone and sprint input adjustments (PC only) |
Known Issues Still Affecting The Blood of Dawnwalker
Despite the rapid patches, several problems remain unresolved. Players report flickering lights, UI font size being too small, sprinting suddenly stopping at an angle, PC cursor issues when playing with a controller, screen tearing, and a bug when switching to full screen mode that makes menus uninteractable, including dialogue menus. Performance and crashing issues continue to affect both consoles and PC. A separate crashing issue during shader compilation persists, with the recommended workaround being a BIOS update for affected Intel processors.
Why DualSense Support Matters on PC
The DualSense is the PlayStation 5’s primary controller, featuring adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, and a built-in microphone array. On PC, native support has been inconsistent across games, often requiring third-party tools like DS4Windows or Steam Input workarounds. Official DualSense support on Steam and GOG means the controller is recognized natively, with correct button prompts and full functionality without additional configuration. For players who prefer the DualSense ergonomics over Xbox-style controllers, this update removes a significant barrier.
A Launch That Defied the Release Calendar
The Blood of Dawnwalker launched on September 3, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, arriving just ahead of a crowded release window that includes GTA 6 in November. The game sold more than one million copies worldwide within 48 hours and hit a peak of 70,692 concurrent players on Steam over its first weekend. For a debut title from a new studio, those numbers are exceptional.
Rebel Wolves was founded by veterans of The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, and The Blood of Dawnwalker is its first original intellectual property. The studio has described the game as the opening chapter of a broader Dawnwalker Saga, with each installment set in a different century and culture, connected by Coen’s centuries-spanning story. Rebel Wolves has already posted a job listing for a lead writer to work on the next chapter, confirming that the sequel is in active planning.
Critical Reception: A Divisive Hit
Reviews landed with a wide spread. IGN awarded the game a 9 out of 10, calling it “an impressive, bloody cocktail of interesting ideas and well-written characters.” Eurogamer praised it for delivering “bold and provocative ideas of its own” within a familiar dark fantasy framework. More critical assessments flagged repetitive design, uneven systems, and constant jank, with some reviewers noting that the game feels like it arrived ten years too late for its genre conventions.
On Steam, the game sits at “Mostly Positive” with 83% of over 12,000 reviews favoring it, though negative feedback focuses heavily on optimization, the capped 30fps in cutscenes, and the lack of a New Game+ mode. The standout mechanic praised across nearly every review is the 30-day time budget: Coen has 30 days and nights to rescue his family, and the clock advances only when the player completes quests, upgrades abilities, or travels. Roaming the open world does not consume time, and quests can be completed in any order, skipped entirely, or never discovered.
What Comes Next for The Blood of Dawnwalker
Hotfix 1.0.3 is a narrow but welcome update that closes a long-standing gap for PC players who prefer the DualSense. The more demanding fixes, stuttering in borderless mode, shader compilation crashes, and full performance optimization, remain in development. A subsequent Hotfix 1.0.4 has already addressed stability improvements, quest-blocking issues, game-saving issues, and a frame-rate drop that occurred when plugging in a controller with outdated GameInput software. Rebel Wolves has pledged to keep improving the game, and the speed of these patches suggests further updates will arrive quickly. For now, PC players should run the game in Full Screen, ensure their BIOS is current, and treat the remaining controller and performance quirks as temporary constraints rather than permanent ones. The core experience has proven strong enough to carry a franchise.
