Vampiric RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker has launched with several PC problems, but developer Rebel Wolves is already investigating the main complaints and has published temporary solutions for some of them.
The game currently holds an 84 Metacritic score for PC and 75 per cent positive reviews from more than 1,400 Steam users. That suggests the launch is far from disastrous, despite the expectations that come with a team containing former CD Projekt developers and comparisons with The Witcher 3.
Some technical shortcomings are more disruptive than others. Players have reported stuttering in windowed and borderless modes, crashes during shader compilation, missing button-remapping options for PS5 controllers and sprinting that stops when changing direction with a gamepad.
For more gaming news and hardware coverage, explore RETROCADE’s arcade blog or browse the arcade machine buying guide for a different kind of gaming setup.
The four reported PC issues
In a post shared through the game’s X account, Rebel Wolves outlined the most common problems and the advice currently available:
- Stuttering in windowed or borderless mode: Try launching the game in fullscreen.
- Crashes during shader compilation: Update the motherboard BIOS. The developers point to this link for further information.
- No PS5 controller button mapping: Rebel Wolves says it is working on adding the option.
- Sprinting stops when changing direction: The team is preparing a fix. For now, try reducing controller sensitivity from 1 to 0.8 in the console settings.
Why shader compilation can cause crashes
The shader-compilation crash appears to be linked to outdated BIOS software on systems using Intel Core CPUs. The resulting conflict involves Oodle and Unreal, so affected players should check for available BIOS updates and install them carefully.
Intel identified the issue in 2024, making a system update particularly important for players affected by this crash.
Fullscreen is only a temporary answer
The windowed and borderless performance problem is arguably the most inconvenient workaround. Fullscreen mode may reduce the stuttering, but it is not an ideal long-term solution for players who need to switch between applications or prefer a flexible desktop setup. A future patch will hopefully improve performance in those display modes.
Players have also highlighted accessibility limitations that were not included in the developer’s four-point update. UI text and subtitles can be difficult to read because they are small, and the game currently offers no way to increase their size. That makes text-heavy scenes less comfortable and is another area where a prompt update would help.
While these issues do not appear to have derailed the game’s overall reception, they show how important launch optimisation remains for modern PC RPGs. Players looking for dedicated gaming hardware can also browse RETROCADE’s arcade machines for a separate home gaming experience.
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