Blackwood is a cinematic third-person shooter that splits your time between running a DVD store in 2012 New York and working as a contract killer after dark. Built by AttritoM7 Productions and published alongside IZilla Games, it leans on the stylish gunplay of John Wick and the diving, slow-motion action of Max Payne while adding its own store-management layer on top.
Quick answer: Blackwood’s Act 1 releases on Steam on September 16, 2026 at $24.99. Buying it grants the full game, so Act 2 and Act 3 arrive as free updates for existing owners even as the price rises for new buyers.
Blackwood release date and three-act roadmap
Blackwood is not a single, one-time launch. The developer is shipping the game across three acts, each a complete chapter of protagonist Anton’s story, with extra missions added between the major acts. Act 1 opens the game and later acts drop as free content updates.
| Act | Release | Main missions |
|---|---|---|
| Act 1 | September 16, 2026 | 4 main missions (6+ hours) |
| Act 2 | March 2027 | 4 main missions |
| Act 3 | September 2027 | 5 main missions |
Each act also carries multiple side missions and additional content. Because the final chapter is planned for September 2027, you will wait roughly a year after launch to play through the full story.
Note: This is not an early access release. The developer describes Blackwood as a full game delivered in three acts rather than an unfinished build.
Pricing and what your purchase includes
When you buy Blackwood, you buy the full game, not just Act 1. Every future act comes as a free update, so you never need to purchase Act 2 or Act 3 separately after paying at launch. The price does climb over time for new buyers as each act is released.
| Milestone | Price for new buyers |
|---|---|
| Launch (Act 1) | $24.99 |
| Act 2 release | $29.99 |
| Act 3 release | $34.99 |
The practical takeaway is simple. Buy at launch for $24.99 and you lock in the lowest price while still receiving all three acts.
Combat, takedowns, and gunplay
Combat is the core of Blackwood. Gunplay is described as fast, stylish, and unforgiving, with fluid movement options like dives, rolls, and slides to keep encounters relentless. The signature system is contextual takedowns, ranging from one-on-one hand-to-hand executions to using the environment around you to finish enemies.
Before a night job, Anton preps at an underground armory, choosing weapons such as the Korshinov KS12 rifle and a Lugar 9mm, loading ammo, and setting up moves through a takedown customization menu called Choreography. Ammunition and gear can be ordered from a dark web market using resources you earn.
The action mixes ranged shooting with weighty melee. Enemies react to hits through camera shake and positioning systems, and defensive play includes a soft camera lock, parries, and dodges. Lower difficulties show timing cues for these moves, while higher difficulties strip the cues away for a harder read.
The double life: DVD store and assassin
The store is more than a cover story. It is where Anton lives, decorates, and plays out a normal existence between contracts. You can change outfits, interact with the apartment, and buy and sell DVDs, with RPG elements that tie the two identities together.
Running the shop is optional in scope. You can restock shelves, organize inventory, set prices, and work the counter to raise profits, or let it run on autopilot and simply get by. Managed well, the store becomes a steady source of income that funds weapons and gear for the combat missions.
Story, setting, and tone
Blackwood is set in a detailed recreation of New York in 2012 and follows Anton, a store owner by day and a contract killer by night, caught between survival, morality, and a past that keeps resurfacing. The game frames a cast of flawed, human characters moving through a violent city full of secrets, with ads, tattoos, and posters used to build the world.
Expect mature content. The developer flags blood and gore, intense violence, strong language, and use of drugs and alcohol.
PC system requirements
Blackwood is a single-player PC title with English interface, full audio, and subtitles, plus Steam Achievements, Cloud saves, and Family Sharing. An SSD is required at both tiers, and the install needs 30 GB of space.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 / 11 64-bit | Windows 10 / 11 64-bit |
| Processor | Ryzen 5 3600 / Core i5-10400F | Ryzen 5 5600X / Core i5-12400F |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GTX 1650 / RX 570 / Arc A380 | RTX 3060 / RX 6600 XT / Arc A750 |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 |
| Storage | 30 GB (SSD required) | 30 GB (NVMe SSD recommended) |
| Target | 1080p Low, 30 FPS native | 1080p High, 60 FPS native |
FSR2 is offered as an optional performance mode at the minimum tier, while DLSS and FSR2 are available at the recommended tier for higher resolutions or extra headroom. DirectX 12 is optional on supported hardware for improved PSO stability.
Where to get Blackwood
Blackwood launches on Steam. You can add it to your wishlist now to be notified the moment Act 1 unlocks on September 16, 2026, then buy in at the $24.99 launch price to secure all three acts.
If the mix of grounded melee, stylish shootouts, and a store you actually run appeals to you, Blackwood is worth tracking as its first act goes live and the next two chapters roll out over the following year at no extra cost.
