Blood of Dawnwalker Update 1.1 Adds Directional Animal Petting and 1,100+ Fixes

Ever wanted to pet a dog in a video game, but felt like the controls just weren't complicated enough? The Blood of Dawnwalker has you covered. Rebel Wolves is adding directional animal petting in Update 1.1, and yes, that's exactly what it sounds like.

Similar to Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Dawnwalker's combat uses directional inputs to attack and defend from different angles. Update 1.1, due out next week, will let you take that same system and use it to frantically rub a dog. "What happens when you merge a directional combat system with the ability to pet dogs and cats?" the studio asked. "Directional. Animal. Petting." We honestly can't argue with that logic.

But the update is more than just a meme. It also adds a consumable item called the Draught of Mind Rebirth. Take a sip and you'll be able to respec all your upgrade points and try out a different build without starting the game again. That's a huge quality-of-life win for anyone who wants to experiment.

Elsewhere, the game is getting an even easier mode for those who couldn't get to grips with directional combat, plus options for larger font sizes for subtitles. Accessibility is always good. There are also visual upgrades coming, such as frame generation improvements, better animations and camera movement, improved lock-on and targeting, and better traversal.

Oh, and the Japanese version of the game has had all the blood and gore put back in. That's kinda vital for a game about a clan of human-sized leeches. Rebel Wolves said there are over 1,100 other improvements in Update 1.1. That's a lot, and suggests a certain level of dedication.

It shouldn't be a huge surprise though — the former The Witcher developers see the game as a starting point for an epic RPG series. The Dawnwalker team has already teased where that future might take the series one day, with a CGI trailer depicting lead character Coen in the present day. The advantages of being an immortal halfbreed, eh?

The Blood of Dawnwalker passed 1 million copies sold in its first two days, which suggests the team will at least get another game out. Whether that takes Coen straight to the present day or flips forward to another historical pinch point like Assassin's Creed remains to be seen. For now, though, we're just excited to pet some animals with directional precision. What do you think of Update 1.1? Will you be picking this up?