Yes, it’s finally happened. After three long years of rumours, reports, leaks, a couple of official teases, and then, last month, confirmation the whole thing was real, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake has been revealed. It’s called Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, as we already knew thanks to a PEGI leak last year, and – as we also already knew thanks to a flappy lips on the internet last week – it’s coming to PS5, Xbox Series XS, and PC soon. On 9th July, to be exact, and even with that slightly rubbish name, the insatiable pirate fan within me is thrilled.
But what is Resynced? Officially, it’s a “faithful remake” of Ubisoft’s much-loved 2013 pirate adventure, “totally rebuilt from the ground-up” using the latest version of the company’s Anvil Engine. Fundamentally, then, it’s the same character-driven single-player open-word adventure of old (“This is not an RPG”, Ubisoft was at bizarrely great pains to stress during its reveal), following the swashbuckling, sun-kissed Caribbean adventures of charming pirate Edward Kenway as he roams the tropical seas.
But while much remains the same in Resynced, Ubisoft says the original Black Flag’s familiar action has been “elevated to a new level of immersion and realism”. And yes, judging by its trailer and gameplay footage, it looks bloody gorgeous; the already vibrant world of Black Flag refreshed and renewed with the likes of high resolution textures, enhanced lighting, “strikingly detailed environments”, and a new dynamic weather system. And there’s talk of other meaningful tweaks too.
Underwater exploration, for instance, is described as “more expansive, more beautiful, and more perilous than ever before”, and while specifics on that point remain rather woolly, Ubisoft has got a little more granular about changes elsewhere. Combat, for instance, is said to have been “entirely reworked” into a “more dynamic” action-orientated experience, with Kenway’s collection of dual swords, pistols, and hidden blades each supposedly now playing a more specific role, meaning “faster, more fluid attacks and combos”. Expect the likes of “precise parries” that open up targets for an instakill, and chained takedowns.
All this comes as part of a game-wide effort to ensure movement now “flows more naturally from one action to the next”. And if we’re talking about parkour specifically, Resynced’s “smooth and improved” system is said to build on the “latest improvements” from more recent Assassin’s Creed games, while still retaining Edward’s classic moves. Stealth, too, has had a bit of a refresh, with players now able to crouch anywhere in a bid for more flexible sneakery, while those dreaded tailing and eavesdropping missions have also seen a revamp. In Resynced, getting discovered no longer results in instant desynchronisation and the action instead continues. “Your objectives remain,” says Ubisoft, “but your target will react and you must adapt accordingly.”
But why leg when you can boat? Sailing obviously plays a major role in Black Flag – you are a pirate, after all – and Ubisoft promises significant improvements here too. The sea now plays an “active role in how you’ll be challenged by the elements”, for instance, with the likes of raging storms and rogue waves impacting the way your ship handles. Speaking of which, Edward’s ship, the Jackdaw, is now equipped with “even more firepower” to deploy when facing threats on open water, and new alternate fire upgrades are promised for every weapon, granting “more power and flexibility”.
Notably, three brand new officers have been added to reinforce your crew in Resynced: Lucy Baldwin, the Padré, and Dead Man Smith. It’s here we start to see some narrative additions; each new officer features their own unique quest line shedding a bit of light on their backstories. Gain their trust, recruit them to your crew, and you’ll be granted access to their “powerful” abilities. Dead Man Smith, for instance, can unlock a double-shot from broadside weapons. Beyond that, there’s talk of new narrative arcs involving Black Beard and Stede (as well as a new scene with Edward’s wife, Caroline, apparently), and Black Flag’s original roster of sea shanties has been expanded with some new additions. Oh, and there’s room for a pet cat or monkey on your ship now too.
So that’s what you do get in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. What you won’t get is any of the original’s story DLC, such as Freedom Cry (which told the further adventures of Adéwalé), as Ubisoft says it “made a clear choice” early on that Resynced would be a “pure story driven adventure” fully focused on Edward’s adventures in the Caribbean. That also means it won’t include the original’s multiplayer mode – presumably because Ubisoft would much prefer you shuffle off and help inject some fresh life into Skull & Bones.
Here’s a funny thing, though; despite dedicating a whole section to Black Flag’s modern-day bits during Resynced’s unveiling, Ubisoft still managed to dance around the specifics in a way that makes it a little unclear what we’re actually getting. Back in 2013, it says, Black Flag’s modern-day sections “reflected where the franchise was” at the time, serving as a transition moment, especially in regard to Desmond’s story. So it was clear “changes were needed”. Supposedly, the team has approached the problem “in a way that focuses on Edward’s journey while still connecting his memories to the Animus”, whatever that means, and Resynced’s “modern-day riffs” will feature “new moments that focus on Edward’s internal struggles”. Make of that what you will.
And that, for now at least, is pretty much all we’re getting. When Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced launches on 9th July it’ll be available in a variety of different versions. The fanciest of these is the Resynced Collector’s Edition that, with its comically oversized box, was explicitly showcased during Ubisoft’s reveal. This notably includes a large-scale Edward Kenway figurine slouching atop a treasure chest (now, where have we seen that before?), alongside a notebook featuring his diary entries, a brooch, a cloth map, and other bits. If you don’t want that, there’s always the standard edition. And if Resynced’s “2026 take on the original legend” doesn’t appeal at all, Ubisoft has offered its assurances the 2013 game will remain available to buy.
