Bandai Namco just confirmed that Contract from the Darkness, the first paid DLC for Super Robot Wars Y, launches November 20, 2025. Players who own the Deluxe or Ultimate Edition get early access starting November 18. The expansion brings three major crossover series to the tactical RPG: Galaxy Cyclone Braiger, The Big O, and Fuuto PI: The Portrait of Kamen Rider Skull, adding five playable units and nearly 30 new missions to the base game.
Three Iconic Series Join the Fight
Contract from the Darkness introduces units from three distinct anime franchises, each bringing their own flavor to Super Robot Wars Y’s tactical battles. Galaxy Cyclone Braiger makes its return to the series after previous appearances in Alpha Gaiden, GC/XO, and NEO. The playable unit features Kid, Isaac, Bowie, and Omachi piloting the titular Braiger mech, a transforming robot capable of combining into more powerful configurations.
The Big O comes back to Super Robot Wars after featuring in the Z series and SRW D. Roger Smith pilots the massive black megadeus through Paradigm City, bringing his signature negotiator skills and Dorothy as an assist crew member. The DLC includes an arranged version of the iconic theme song Sure Promise, letting players experience battles with that distinctive Big O soundtrack energy.
The biggest surprise is Fuuto PI: The Portrait of Kamen Rider Skull, marking the first time this specific Kamen Rider property appears in Super Robot Wars. Three units join the roster: Kamen Rider Double, Kamen Rider Skull, and Kamen Rider Accel. Tokime serves as an assist crew member, and the DLC features an instrumental version of W-G-X ~W Goes Next~ as the battle theme. This marks another step in Bandai Namco’s expansion of Kamen Rider representation in the tactical RPG series.
What You Get in the Pack
The Contract from the Darkness DLC includes five new playable units spread across the three franchises. Beyond the robots themselves, you get 16 new Area Missions that expand the main campaign with additional story content and challenges. Another 13 Onboard Missions provide side objectives you can complete between major story battles, offering rewards like upgrade parts and bonus experience.
Two new Assist Crew members join your ship: Dorothy from The Big O and Tokime from Fuuto PI. Assist crew provide passive bonuses and special abilities that support your combat units during battles. The specific skills these two bring haven’t been fully detailed yet, but assist crew typically offer buffs like increased accuracy, damage boosts, or special support attacks.
The DLC also introduces new enemy types and bosses tied to each franchise’s storyline. Expect encounters with antagonists from all three series, creating crossover battles where you might face off against Big O villains alongside threats from the Kamen Rider universe. These boss fights tend to be the highlights of Super Robot Wars DLC, offering challenging encounters that test your mastery of the game’s tactical systems.
Free Update Drops November 17
Before the DLC launches, Bandai Namco is releasing a free version 1.1.0 update on November 17. The patch adds a special Battle Rush mission accessible in Chapter 6, designed to help players level up units and farm resources more efficiently. Battle Rush missions typically throw waves of enemies at your team, letting you grind experience and money without playing through full story missions.
The update also introduces EX Level Pilot Skills, expanding character progression beyond the base game’s level caps. This gives veteran players new ways to customize their favorite pilots and push their stats higher for tackling harder difficulties. Another addition is Mission 1: A Smile on the Street Corner, a preview mission for the DLC that becomes available after clearing A Mission for Brave Heroes in Chapter 2. This preview lets everyone sample the DLC content before deciding whether to purchase.
Additional stability improvements round out the patch, addressing bugs and performance issues reported by the community since the game launched in August 2025. The free update ensures the base game is in top shape before the paid DLC arrives.
Season Pass Includes Second Wave
Contract from the Darkness represents the first half of the DLC 1 and 2 Set available through the Season Pass, Deluxe Edition, and Ultimate Edition. The second DLC, titled Awakening of a Soul, hasn’t received a release date yet but is confirmed to include Steel Jeeg, Getter Noir making its console debut, and The Brave of Legend Da-Garn appearing in Super Robot Wars for the first time.
Like the first pack, DLC 2 brings five playable units, 16 new Area Missions, and one Assist Crew member. Purchasing both DLC packs unlocks bonus missions featuring protagonist units from Super Robot Wars X and T: Xelguard, Tyranado, and Tyranado Rex. These crossover missions let you pilot mechs from previous Super Robot Wars games, creating meta fan service for longtime series followers.
The DLC 1 and 2 Set costs $29.99 standalone if you bought the base game separately. Players who purchased the Deluxe Edition for $94.99 already own both DLC packs plus the Bonus Mission Pack with 15 side missions. The Ultimate Edition runs $119.99 and adds the Premium Sound and Data Pack, which includes 31 anime theme songs, 15 original music tracks, and 55 pages of reference documents with art and design materials.
What Makes Super Robot Wars Y Special
For those unfamiliar with the series, Super Robot Wars Y launched August 29, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. The game serves as the latest entry in Bandai Namco’s long-running tactical RPG franchise that combines units and pilots from dozens of mecha anime series into one massive crossover strategy game.
The base game features over 20 different anime franchises represented through playable units, including Gundam Wing, Code Geass, Full Metal Panic, Gurren Lagann, and many more. The story follows original protagonist characters caught in conflicts spanning multiple anime universes, with visual novel style storytelling between tactical grid-based battles.
Combat takes place on grid maps where you position your mech units, choose weapons based on range and damage output, and manage spirit commands that buff your pilots. When enemies attack, you decide whether to evade, block, or counterattack, creating a risk-reward dynamic where aggressive play can backfire if you misjudge enemy damage. The morale system increases your damage output as battles progress, eventually letting specific units enter Super Mode for devastating special attacks.
Deep Customization Systems
Between missions, you upgrade mechs with parts that boost stats, teach pilots new skills through Skill Programs, and manage your battleship’s crew. Assist Links let units support each other during combat, filling an assist gauge that unlocks healing, extra damage, or energy refills. Map Attacks hit multiple enemies simultaneously if you position correctly, creating satisfying moments where you obliterate entire enemy formations in one strike.
The game respects player time with adjustable battle speed up to 5x and auto-battle options for grinding regular encounters. However, boss fights and challenging missions require careful planning, proper unit compositions balancing long-range and close-combat mechs, and smart resource management across dozens of deployable units. Reviews praised the tactical depth while noting the overwhelming amount of mechanics new players need to learn before everything clicks.
Critical Reception and Community Response
Super Robot Wars Y received generally positive reviews upon launch, with critics highlighting the expanded roster, refined combat mechanics, and improved accessibility features compared to previous entries. The game sold well enough to justify continued DLC support, though specific sales figures haven’t been publicly disclosed by Bandai Namco.
The community’s main request has been for more diverse franchise representation, and the DLC addresses this by bringing back The Big O after years of absence and debuting Fuuto PI’s Kamen Rider units. The pricing structure has drawn mixed reactions, with some players feeling $30 for two DLC packs is reasonable given the content volume, while others in certain regions found the pricing prohibitive compared to the base game’s cost.
Bandai Namco’s commitment to free updates alongside paid DLC has earned goodwill from the fanbase. The Battle Rush mode and EX Level Pilot Skills coming in the free patch benefit all players regardless of whether they purchase the expansions, showing the developer isn’t gating quality-of-life improvements behind paywalls.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Contract from the Darkness DLC release?
The DLC launches November 20, 2025, for all platforms. Players who own the Deluxe Edition, Ultimate Edition, or DLC 1 and 2 Set get early access starting November 18.
How much does the DLC cost?
Individual pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but the DLC 1 and 2 Set containing both expansions costs $29.99. It’s included free with the Deluxe Edition at $94.99 and Ultimate Edition at $119.99.
What franchises are included in the first DLC?
Contract from the Darkness adds Galaxy Cyclone Braiger, The Big O, and Fuuto PI: The Portrait of Kamen Rider Skull. You get five playable units total: Braiger, Big O, Kamen Rider Double, Kamen Rider Skull, and Kamen Rider Accel.
Do I need to buy the Season Pass?
No, you can purchase the DLC 1 and 2 Set separately for $29.99 if you own the base game. The Season Pass is bundled into the Deluxe and Ultimate Editions rather than sold standalone.
What platforms is Super Robot Wars Y available on?
The game and DLC are available for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. All versions launch simultaneously with cross-buy not supported between platforms.
Is there a free update with the DLC?
Yes, version 1.1.0 launches November 17 with Battle Rush mode, EX Level Pilot Skills, a DLC preview mission, and stability improvements. This update is free for all players regardless of DLC ownership.
When does DLC 2 release?
Bandai Namco hasn’t announced a release date for Awakening of a Soul yet. Based on the first DLC’s timing three months after launch, expect DLC 2 sometime in early 2026.
Conclusion
Contract from the Darkness represents exactly what Super Robot Wars fans want from DLC: beloved franchises making long-awaited returns, brand new properties debuting in the series, and substantial mission content that expands the campaign meaningfully. The addition of The Big O satisfies longtime fans who’ve missed Roger Smith since the Z series, while Kamen Rider’s expanded presence shows Bandai Namco recognizes the appeal of mixing tokusatsu heroes with traditional mecha. Galaxy Cyclone Braiger rounds out the package with classic space adventure energy. The free November 17 update ensures even players who skip the DLC get meaningful improvements, and the early access window rewards Deluxe and Ultimate Edition buyers without feeling exploitative. Whether you’re a tactical RPG veteran who lives for these crossover battles or someone curious about what happens when you throw Kamen Riders into fights alongside giant robots, November 20 marks the perfect time to jump back into Super Robot Wars Y and see what new chaos awaits in the Darkness.