A complete remake of the cult Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag was released on July 9 under the name Resynced and immediately topped the Steam charts. However, along with its commercial success, the game received a wave of criticism — primarily for the system of in-game purchases and technical flaws.
Thirteen years after the release of the original Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Ubisoft presented its complete remake called Resynced, xrust reports. The game was released on July 9 and immediately topped the Steam charts, but along with high interest it received a wave of criticism — primarily for in-game purchases and technical flaws that users consider inappropriate to the level of an AAA release.
Commercial start and audience expectations
Even before the release, it was clear that Ubisoft was relying on nostalgia. According to specialized analysts, pre-orders of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced on Steam exceeded those of Skull & Bones, an online pirate action game that never became a hit. After its release, the game quickly rose to the top for simultaneous online play and became the company's most talked about project in mid-July.
The development was carried out by Ubisoft Singapore with the participation of several international divisions. For the remake, we used an updated version of the Anvil engine, on which modern parts of the series are built. Inside the company, the project is positioned as a “reinterpretation of the classics,” and not as a remaster with improved textures.
Critics' ratings: from delight to restraint
class=»notranslate»>__GTAG5__ Professional reviews turned out to be heterogeneous. Some publications note that Ubisoft did not limit itself to cosmetic improvements, but actually rebuilt the game: updated the visual part, expanded the storylines and reworked a number of mechanics. Game Informer gave the project 8.25 points, emphasizing that players are looking at an “expanded version of the classic” and not a standard remaster.
Other critics are more cautious. Some reviewers feel that the remake doesn't always strike a balance between respecting the original and attempting to modernize it. It is noted that Ubisoft retained the structure of Black Flag, but did not dare to make deep changes that could bring the game closer to modern standards of the series. The average score on OpenCritic is 81 out of 100 — a solid result, but without the feeling of a breakthrough.
Players argue about microtransactions and performance
class=»notranslate»>__GTAG5__ User reviews on Steam are noticeably colder. The main complaints relate to in-game monetization: some cosmetic items and upgrades are offered through the store, which irritates audiences accustomed to the more straightforward structure of the original. Some players believe that such decisions violate the atmosphere of a pirate adventure and look intrusive.
There are also technical notes. Users complain about unstable 60 frames in cut scenes and rare performance drops in intense naval battles. The forums are discussing episodes where the game behaves inconsistently: in some scenes it works perfectly, in others it suddenly loses smoothness. Despite this, online remains high — interest in the remake is supported by both nostalgia and the scale of updates.
What has changed in the game itself
Ubisoft emphasizes: Resynced does not turn Black Flag into an RPG. There are no character levels or “gear-speed” here — the company is deliberately returning the series to the action-adventure format. The elements of progression that remain are improvements to the ship and equipment, which are tied to resources.
The plot is expanded with new episodes with Blackbeard and Steed Bonnet, as well as three officers accompanying Edward Kenway. Naval battles have become more detailed: targeted shooting from rotary cannons has been improved, new weather phenomena have been added — waterspouts and storms. Parkour has been updated based on Assassin's Creed Shadows technologies, which makes moving around ships and city locations smoother.
Technical improvements include ray tracing, micropolygon rendering, a redesigned destruction system, and new Edward facial animation created with modern motion capture. There is no multiplayer — Ubisoft focused on single player play, emphasizing that the remake should preserve the spirit of the original.
A pirated copy appeared before the release
A few days before the release, a playable build spread online, bypassing Denuvo’s protection. This is not uncommon for the industry, but the fact became a reason for discussion: Resynced turned out to be one of the major releases whose protection did not withstand even a short period of time. Professional circles note that such cases undermine confidence in security systems and create additional risks for publishers.
Why Ubisoft returned to Black Flag
Black Flag remains one of the most popular parts of the series — even thirteen years later. The remake fits into the strategy of major publishers, who are reimagining cult games for new audiences while monetizing the nostalgia of old ones. Inside the industry, they believe that Ubisoft is testing the remake format for future projects in this way.
For Russian players, the situation is traditional: official Ubisoft sales in Russia have been suspended, so access to the game is only possible through alternative platforms. The Russian language is presented in the form of subtitles, there is no voice acting — the company explains this decision by the limitations of localization resources.
The cost of a standard edition on Western sites is about 60 dollars (approximately 4800–5000 rubles at the current exchange rate). The Deluxe Edition includes cosmetic packs, while the Collector's Edition includes an Edward Kenway figure, steel case, and cloth map.
Sources : Game Informer, Kotaku, Wikipedia
Xrust Remake of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag launched on Steam with record online numbers, but caused controversy due to monetization
