Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons — Wizards of the Coast Unveils New Dark Fantasy Action-Adventure for 2027

The landscape of video game adaptations for Dungeons & Dragons is rapidly expanding, and Wizards of the Coast delivered a major surprise at The Game Awards 2025 with the unveiling of Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons. Developed by Invoke Studios, the third-person, single-player action-adventure game promises a dark fantasy open world and an experience centered entirely on the dramatic power and steep price of wielding forbidden magic. Set for a 2027 launch, the game introduces players to Kaatri, a compelling new protagonist brought to life by the acclaimed performance capture of actress Tricia Helfer.

The teaser trailer, while short, established a tone of visceral, chaotic power and moral ambiguity, featuring the protagonist grappling with an otherworldly force—the very source of her power. The project marks a distinct creative direction for the D&D franchise, consciously stepping away from the classic turn-based, party-focused structure perfected by games like Baldur's Gate 3. Instead, Warlock aims to deliver a focused, immersive video game experience first, using the rich lore of the tabletop game as a foundation for a new, action-centric narrative.

The Warlock Fantasy: Kaatri and the Power of the Pact

The central pillar of Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons is the core fantasy of the Warlock class itself. Unlike Wizards who gain power through meticulous study, or Sorcerers whose magic is innate, Warlocks gain their powerful abilities through a dangerous, charismatic pact with an otherworldly being known as a Patron. This narrative focus on the relationship between the player character and their mysterious benefactor is set to be one of the campaign’s core stories.

Players control Kaatri, described as a veteran warrior who has struck this dark bargain to gain the magic necessary to fight against the escalating threats in the world. The developers from Invoke Studios, including creative lead Jeff Hattem, highlighted the importance of translating the Warlock's "high charisma" from the tabletop game into an impactful video game presence. This charisma is personified by the casting of Tricia Helfer, famous for her roles in Battlestar Galactica and Lucifer. Helfer provides full performance capture for the role, ensuring that Kaatri's interactions and dramatic journey are as compelling as her combat skills.

The trailer provided only glimpses of the lore, but those familiar with D&D have already begun to speculate about Kaatri’s Patron. The presence of black feathers in the teaser, combined with the appearance of undead monsters (such as the Beholder seen in the trailer), suggests that Kaatri's Patron could be the Raven Queen. The Raven Queen is a prominent D&D deity associated with death and a staunch opponent of the undead, a fitting connection for a dark fantasy setting where a warrior turns to forbidden powers to battle encroaching evil. This leaning into established D&D lore, while remaining accessible to newcomers, is a delicate balance that Wizards of the Coast and Invoke Studios are clearly prioritizing.

A Focus on Immersive, Expressive Magic and Combat

The most crucial takeaway from the initial reveal is the game’s strong emphasis on a unique and responsive magic system. Invoke Studios is committed to creating "immersive, expressive magic" where spells are not merely tools for combat but are integral to every facet of the third-person action-adventure experience. Players will be asked to use lateral thinking and creativity to utilize their spellcraft in a freeform manner across the connected open world.

This "Expressive Magic" system will manifest in three primary ways:

Exploration and Puzzles: Magic will serve as a key to unlocking new paths and possibilities within the beautiful yet unsettling dark fantasy world. Using a variety of rituals and spells, players will solve environmental challenges in their own creative way.
Visceral Combat: In combat scenarios, the game will blend magic and melee attacks, allowing players to utilize spells to overcome enemies tactically and viscously. The developers have pointed to titles like God of War and Dragon Age: The Veilguard as inspirations for the kind of action-adventure gameplay they aim to channel.
Player Agency: Although Warlock is not a traditional RPG and does not offer party-based gameplay or moral alignment choices, it draws inspiration from immersive-sim experiences like Deus Ex and Watch Dogs. This suggests a high degree of player choice in how challenges are approached and overcome, even within the confines of a single-player, fixed-narrative structure.

Invoke Studios has been adamant about differentiating Warlock from the recent success of the classic, rules-heavy D&D experience. General Manager Dominic Guay was clear that the game is not trying to "simulate the tabletop RPG experience," which means there will be no dice-rolling or complex rulesets to slow down the action. This move is intended to ensure that Warlock serves as an accessible entry point for newcomers to the D&D universe while still offering exciting, lore-rich content for veteran fans.

Development Studio, Release Window, and Future Reveals

Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons is being developed by Invoke Studios, based in Montreal. The studio is not new to the D&D franchise; they previously operated as Tuque Studios and released the party-based action RPG Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance in 2021. This history, combined with the new creative mandate from publisher Wizards of the Coast, signals a commitment to exploring the D&D universe through diverse video game genres.

Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., sees Warlock as a reinforcement of its commitment to worldbuilding and broadening its AAA roster. The game is currently deep in development and is slated for a release in 2027. For those eager to see the action in motion, a full gameplay debut is officially scheduled for Summer 2026, with more concrete details and in-game footage expected to follow. The long wait between the initial teaser and the planned launch suggests a desire to ensure a high-quality, polished product, living up to the massive expectations placed on D&D video games in the current market.

The reveal of Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons cements the franchise's ongoing exploration of different gaming styles. By focusing on a single character, high charisma, dark fantasy, and "expressive magic," Invoke Studios and Wizards of the Coast are aiming to deliver a new kind of action-adventure that stands on its own while respecting the rich lore of the most famous tabletop RPG in the world.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the official release window for Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons?

A: The game is currently planned for a worldwide launch sometime in 2027.

Q: What is the genre of Warlock?

A: Warlock is a third-person, single-player action-adventure game set in an open-world environment.

Q: Is Warlock an RPG similar to Baldur's Gate 3?

A: No. The developers have explicitly stated that Warlock is not an RPG and will not feature dice rolling or attempt to simulate the complex rules of the tabletop game. It is a focused action-adventure title.

Q: Who is the protagonist, and who plays her?

A: The protagonist is Kaatri, a veteran warrior who makes a pact for magic. She is voiced and performance-captured by the award-winning actress Tricia Helfer.

Q: Who is the developer of Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons?

A: The game is being developed by Invoke Studios, based in Montreal. They are known for their previous D&D title, Dark Alliance.

Q: When can we expect to see gameplay footage?

A: The first major gameplay reveal is scheduled for Summer 2026.

Q: What platforms will Warlock be available on?

A: The developers have confirmed the game will launch on PC, and is expected to launch on major consoles (likely PlayStation and Xbox).