The streets of 2012 New York are about to get a lot more dangerous.
AttritoM7 Productions and IZilla Games have released a new gameplay deep dive for BLACKWOOD: Act 1, offering a closer look at the combat systems, progression mechanics, and everyday routines waiting for players when the game launches on Steam September 16.
At first glance, BLACKWOOD looks like a gritty third-person shooter packed with gunfights, brutal takedowns, and cinematic action. But beneath the surface is a game built around Anton Blackwood’s two very different lives. By day, he runs a seemingly ordinary DVD store. By night, he steps into the criminal underworld as a contract killer trying to survive a world filled with danger, secrets, and unfinished business.
Every Bullet Counts
Combat in BLACKWOOD is designed to reward players who stay mobile and think quickly. Anton can switch weapons on the fly, dive out of danger, chain together takedowns, and use the environment to gain an advantage when things start to fall apart.
Ammunition management is also a major part of the experience. Players will need to make every round matter, especially when a weapon runs dry in the middle of a fight. That is where grounded melee combat, brutal finishers, and whatever objects happen to be nearby can become the difference between surviving an encounter and ending up on the wrong side of it.
The game encourages players to take risks rather than always choosing the safest route. Diving into a group of enemies, using movement to avoid incoming fire, and keeping pressure on opponents can turn a bad situation around in an instant.
More Than a Contract Killer
Outside of missions, players will spend time managing Anton’s personal life and preparing for what comes next. The DVD store serves as one side of his double life, while his home gives players access to systems involving equipment, outfits, food, health, deliveries, music, and other parts of his daily routine.
Players can also customize their arsenal with different weapons, variants, and modifications. A shooting range provides a place to practice target acquisition and get comfortable with Anton’s tools before heading back into the city.
Difficulty settings will give players the chance to tailor the experience to their preferred level of challenge, whether they are looking for a more cinematic ride through the story or a tougher test of their combat skills.
The First Chapter of Anton Blackwood’s Story
BLACKWOOD: Act 1 is the first part of a planned three-act story. It is not an Early Access release. Instead, the game will launch progressively, with future acts included as free updates for players who purchase the game at launch.
Act 2 is currently planned for March 2027, followed by Act 3 in September 2027. Together, the three acts will tell Anton Blackwood’s full story as he tries to balance his quiet public life with the dangerous work he does after dark.
The game made its first public playable appearance at Gamescom 2026, where players were able to try Anton’s apartment, DVD store, and an early mission. Now, with launch just days away, BLACKWOOD is ready to put the full opening chapter in players’ hands.
BLACKWOOD: Act 1 launches September 16, 2026 on PC via Steam.