Gloomwood is kicking off the new year with a substantial Early Access update, expanding its grimy stealth sandbox with a brand-new location: the Hightown District. The update landed on January 1, giving players a fresh slice of the city to infiltrate, loot, and survive.

### A “Most Vertical” Area Yet
Developer New Blood Interactive’s atmospheric stealth title has always leaned into layered routes and tight, dangerous spaces, but Hightown is being framed as the game’s most vertical open zone so far. In practical terms, that means more stacked pathways, multiple elevations to scout from, and the kind of interconnected level design that rewards careful navigation—and punishes sloppy escapes.

### New Threats in the Streets
Alongside the new district, players will encounter fresh dangers, including pig-like police enemies that fit neatly into Gloomwood’s unsettling, plague-soaked vibe. New foes generally mean new patrol patterns and new detection pressures, which should shake up familiar stealth habits for returning players.

### A Useful New Weapon
The update also introduces a new gun described as particularly useful—welcome news in a game where every tool can mean the difference between a clean getaway and a desperate scramble for resources. Gloomwood’s combat is rarely the first option, but better gear expands the range of viable playstyles, especially for players who end up improvising when stealth breaks down.

### Why It Matters
For an Early Access game, meaningful area additions are the clearest signal of momentum, and a more vertical district plays directly to what immersive stealth fans tend to want: more routes, more improvisation, and more stories created by the space itself. If Hightown delivers on that promise, it’s a strong step toward making Gloomwood’s city feel larger, denser, and more replayable with each update.

Source: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/gloomwood-rings-in-the-new-year-with-a-very-vertical-update-filled-with-piggish-cops-and-a-useful-new-gun |