BLACKWOOD Contracts Update: missions, sale and Act 2 access

BLACKWOOD’s Contracts Update is available now, expanding Act 1 with three side missions, and its Steam sale ends November 20. Before buying, separate the optional Supporter extras from the main purchase: the base game already includes future acts, but the complete story is not playable yet.

Three contracts expand Act 1

BLACKWOOD mixes third-person action with running a DVD shop in 2012 New York. The new content sits between story missions rather than delivering the next act. The developer’s released patch notes identify these additions:

The publisher’s release has a counting inconsistency: its subheading says four missions, while its body lists three. The patch notes name the same three above. Count those confirmed contracts when judging the update; the reviewed material does not identify a fourth new mission.

Combat changes warrant another test

The update adds the MP5 through both the in-game internet gun shop and Black Market. Melee gains animations, a low kick and balance changes. Certain enemies now have body-area armor; a new display tracks your own armor, and breakfast grants 20 armor points.

The developer also reports camera and stutter fixes, with optional Camera Mouse Smoothing disabled by default. These are reasons to revisit a troublesome encounter, not proof that every machine now runs well. If aiming or movement drove you away, test those specific problems before deciding whether the update is enough for you.

Compare the regional sale price

Steam prices checked on November 8 show the base game reduced by 20%: US$24.99 to US$19.99, £23.49 to £18.79 in the UK, €24.99 to €19.99 in Germany, and AED74.99 to AED59.99 in the UAE. The store says the offer ends November 20 but does not show an end time on the page, so do not leave the purchase to the last hours of that day.

Use the offer shown for your own account and currency before paying. A regional price comparison is not an instruction to change your account country, and a discount does not answer whether the available content suits you. Existing owners should update their installed copy rather than repurchase the base game for these additions.

Supporter extras are a separate purchase

The cash is in-game currency. Treat the add-on as a choice about its listed items, rather than an admission ticket to the remaining story. Unless you specifically want those extras, keeping the lower-priced base purchase is the simpler decision. Do not mistake the small DLC price for the price of a playable standalone copy.

Check Windows and SSD requirements

The listed targets are native 1080p Low at 30 fps for minimum hardware and 1080p High at 60 fps for recommended hardware. They are developer targets, not our benchmark results. The 30 GB figure is available-storage guidance, not a measured patch download. Allow the installer to show its actual requirements before clearing files unnecessarily.

The reviewed store lists Windows support and English interface, audio and subtitles. The store page we checked shows no Steam Deck compatibility rating, so do not count on handheld play. Do not infer native Mac, Linux or console access from a PC listing; verify any controller or language requirement before buying. The reviewed announcements do not confirm subscription access.

Make a focused return-to-play check

Optional promotions have separate rules

The publisher also announced Razer Chroma integration and a Razer Cortex Play to Earn promotion from November 6–13. Those announcements concern compatible peripherals and a separate rewards program. They are not a promise of a cash rebate on your Steam purchase; inspect the program’s eligibility and terms before counting any reward toward the price.

What remains uncertain

Act 2 is in production. Armor kits, more side missions, localization and an endless-wave mode remain future plans in the developer’s update. No completed release of those features should be assumed from their mention in a roadmap. We have not played or benchmarked this patch, so its pacing, stability and value on your setup remain judgments to make from actual play.

For owners, a short test of the new missions is a sensible next step. For prospective buyers, decide whether the currently available first act is enough on its own; do not let a temporary discount make an unfinished story feel complete. If you prefer to sample a different action game first, our 007 First Light Free Starter Pack guide explains its free access and paid-upgrade distinctions.