A month ago, after what felt like ages of leaks, rumors, and even some people claiming the project was cancelled, Ubisoft had dropped a teaser image and cryptic post about whispers having “wind in their sails,” causing the internet to be excited. The leaks were right. The “cancellation” was false. And now, following today’s worldwide reveal showcase, we know exactly what Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is. We know what it entails, what has changed, and honestly, it looks like the kind of remake that justifies being made in the first place.
Black Flag has been one of the games in the assassin’s creed franchise that we’ve seen mixed opinions on constantly. Some regard the title as personal top threes, while others feel like it was a mixed bag of really high highs and really low lows. I still remember when the game first came out and hearing about glitches causing entire ships to disappear, water to have giant holes in it where a ship should be, and oddities like that, but as time went on and patches went out and those issues got patched out.
Regardless of if you love or hate Black Flag, it has a special place in the Assassin’s Creed conversation, as I feel I hear about this 2013 game more than I hear about more recent entries such as Shadows. We aren’t here to just take a trip to nostalgia town though, as Resynced is right around the corner.
Ubisoft Singapore is leading the development on Resynced, with many of the original developers back on board to help create this entry. This is awesome because it isn’t what we see a lot in game development. A lot of titles get made by “the studio that made” a project, instead of having some of the actual developers behind the project as well. Not only are original developers returning but so are voice actors, as stated by Ubisoft:
Matt Ryan – the original and iconic voice of Edward Kenway who has returned to record brand-new lines for Resynced
So What’s New?
One thing I want to make clear is that this is NOT just a remaster. Resynced is a game that was rebuilt from the ground up on the latest version of Ubisoft’s Anvil Engine, the same one used for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This engine introduces features such as raytraced global illumination, fully modernized water rendering, and a new Atmos weather system into the game that helps make Black Flag feel genuinely alive. This means that you’ll be able to see signs that move and shift with the wind, coconuts that roll around the ground in a storm, and objects that break when enemies are thrown against them. It’s the type of dynamic changes that make the game feel like how you’d probably fondly remember an older title you hadn’t played in 13 years.
Not only is the game getting graphically changed, but the combat has been meaningfully reworked as well. Alongside newly added visceral takedowns and a parry-driven system that sounds much closer to modern game standards, there’s a new enemy type called the Demolitionist. Not much is currently known about the Demolitionist but I’m excited to see how other reworked features such as the quick-fire rope dart and pistol moves play ingot combat, allowing Edward to feel significantly more dangerous and fluid compared to his 2013 counterpart.
Other reworks include Naval Combat. Featuring new secondary weapons including shrapnel barrels that tear through enemy sails and 8-pounders that open up weak points in a hull, you’ll be able to really do some damage out at sea. Enemy ships now have different loadouts depending on their factions, allowing fights to feel a little more dynamic than the original’s fairly repetitive broadside exchanges. The Jackdaw itself is getting more customization, including ship pets! You can bring a cat or a monkey along for the voyage, which is the king of detail that may sound silly but let me tell you, when a pirate game gives me the chance for a ship pet, I’m using a ship pet right away. Ship upgrades can wait, ship pets are where it’s at.
New Content As Well, Not Just New Game Paint
Beyond the upgrades technically and mechanically, Resynced will be adding content that wasn’t in the original game at all! New Officers can be assigned to the Jackdaw, each bringing a unique ability to combat. Playas have been reworked with new rewards and encounters. Kenway’s Fleet, which was originally a passive ship management system, has been overhauled and is now available directly from the Captain’s Cabin instead of requiring a mobile companion app like you need in the original 2013 title. There are ten new sea shanties for you and your crew to sing, which joins the original set that was already part of the game.
New Additional missions have been added with new scenes featuring the original cast. Currently, we aren’t sure how impactful or important the new missions will be, but seeing the involvement of Matt Ryan recording new lines suggests Ubisoft isn’t planning to just reuse scrapped or archived audio.
The parkour in Resynced has also been modernized with moves like manual jumps, side ejects, height-gaining back ejects, and quicker interrupts between moves. Going back to the 2013-parkour era after playing the modern Shadows and Mirage titles would’ve felt rough, so this should help close that gap entirely.
Speaking Of Going Back…
When Assassin’s Creed III got the remastered treatment in the past, the original was delisted from stores such as Steam. Luckily for us, it has been confirmed that the original 2013 Black Flag entry will be staying, as Ubisoft has stated:
Resynced is a 2026 take on the original legend. For those of us who are curious, the original will still be available.
The only downside to this remake is that multiplayer modes which originally were featured in the 2013 title will not be returning this time around.
Platforms and Specs
Resynced launches July 9th on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Ubisoft Store, Epic Games Store, and Steam). It’ll also be coming to cloud streaming platforms such as Nvidia GeForce Now and Blacknut. On PS5 you’ll be receiving three graphic modes: 60 FPS Performance, 30 FPS Fidelity, and a 40 FPS Balanced mode for 120hz displays. Raytraced Global Illumination runs across all three modes, with full raytraced reflections being added in Fidelity. PS5 Pro will get additional enhancements and ships with PSSR support right out of the box, no setting configuration needed. On PC, minimum spec targets 1080p/30 FPS for those with a GTX 1660, however the specs can go as high as a 4090 being needed for 4k/60 FPS with Extended Raytracing enabled.
In terms of game pricing, you have quite a few options available:
- Standard Edition ($59.99)
- Digital/Physical copy of the game.
- Deluxe Edition ($69.99)
- Digital copy of the game.
- Digital Download: Master Assassin Character Pack (Sword, Pistol, and Trinket + a costume for Edward)
- Digital Download: Master Assassin Naval Pack (Sail Set, Ship Pet, Crew Attire, Wheel, Figurehead, and Hull Trim)
- Collector’s Edition ($199.99)
- Digital/Physical copy of the game.
- Edward Kenway Figurine (12 inches)
- Edward’s Leather Logbook
- Metal Brooch
- Exclusive Steelbook
- Sea Shanty Music Sheet
- Digital download: Master Assassin Character Pack.
- Digital download: Master Assassin Naval Pack.
- Digital download: Blackbeard’s Crimson Pack (Pistol & Sword + A costume for Edward)
- Launch Edition ($59.99)
- Physical ONLY copy of the game
- 34 Page Artbook
- World Map Poster
- Digital download: Blackbeard’s Crimson Pack.
- Pre-Order Bonus
- Digital download: Blackbeard’s Crimson Pack.
Are you excited for this new path Ubisoft is trying to sail towards? If you’re a Game Pass subscriber potentially eyeing a cheaper membership while keeping some benefits such as Ubisoft+ Classics, check out our post from the other day!
