On the surface, a remaster or full-scale remake of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag seems like the safest bet Ubisoft can make. It's one of the most beloved games in the franchise, at least outside of the Ezio games. But that's not to say the franchise doesn't have a clear direction. With games like Assassin's Creed Hexthe franchise's future seems as secure as ever, but leveraging its past gains also makes sense from a business perspective.
Unfortunately, every rumor and leak about Assassin's Creed Black Flag resync paints a confusing picture. Ubisoft has yet to confirm it, but come on, the fandom elevates itself based on rumors, leaks, and obscure teases. In other words, some of this should be taken with a grain of salt, but it also feels like Ubisoft is gearing up to shadow it. Either way, most fans are familiar with society's biggest divide. As the franchise has branched out into larger open world RPGs with titles like AC Origins, Odyssey, Valhallaand Shadowscore features such as tight parkour, stealth gameplay, the modern story, Assassin vs. The Templar conflict and others have gotten in the way.
With some of the reports and revelations, it seems that Ubisoft is banking on the game's nostalgia, with improvements, to drive a lot of sales. But by others it seems that Ubisoft is trying to do Assassin's Creed Black Flag resync more like the last one Assassin's Creed game. The argument that it should be one or the other may make sense. Ubisoft could try to push it as nostalgia for an older, beloved game, or it could push it as a modernization, similar to AC Shadows and other games. The main one is how it seemingly goes both ways and neither direction at the same time, opening a Pandora's box of fan sentiment fueled by this longstanding community divide.
How Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is shaping up to be nostalgia bait and modernization at the same time
It bears repeating that Ubisoft has not confirmed any of this information, but it's not like the rumors or leaks are subtle. Ubisoft and those associated with the company have seemingly teased the title themselves. In that way, it feels like nostalgia bait. No proper marketing, especially with AC Black Flag Resynced reported to be released before March 31, makes a shadow drop seem likely. And if you shadow release a game or at least give it a short marketing cycle, you're betting on the community sentiment around it. The same can be said when Bethesda's shadow fell Obsidian remastered. In other words, Ubisoft is betting that “AC Black Flag Remake” will sell on its own. And it sure could.
The Nostalgia Bait of AC Black Flag resynced
-
Faithful Imagining with New Content speaks to fans who want more of that specific world
-
Augmented with Cut Content, such as Mary Read's cut story, which repeats the same appeal to fans
-
Purearts has already teased the Black Flag remake with previous statues. This suggests that plenty of merch, a simple but effective way to capitalize on nostalgia, is likely to come along with the game's launch.
-
It is reportedly being led by Ubisoft Singapore, which is notable due to the studio's contribution to naval combat throughout the series. In other words, it's led by the right studio to make this game everything fans should want it to be.
Even through rumors and leaks, the wording and marketing make it sound like a classic Assassin's Creed game, if it improves for 2026. Meanwhile, Ubisoft is reportedly making efforts to completely modernize the title in terms of the franchise's latest direction. The least harmless of which, without a doubt, is the fact that AC Black Flag synchronized obviously losing the modern segments. Since Desmond's death, the franchise has struggled to piece together a modern direction for the franchise, one that at least lasts longer than a few games, and AC4 Black Flag is undoubtedly the weakest among them. All of this is to say that modern defenders, like myself, might understand this change. But the other changes are of greater concern.
The modernization of AC Black Flag resynced
-
Loot and Gear stats a la AC Shadows
-
A modern inventory system
-
Combat is said to be reworked more like the RPG games than the original
I have played AC Black Flag multiple times, and what makes it special is how the pirate accessories work through everything, even combat. Battle as you board an enemy ship AC Black Flag is still the best in the pirate game genre, period. I don't understand why this battle has to be more similar AC Shadows or any of the RPGs. Maybe it's easier because it uses the modernized Anvil Engine, but if AC Mirage can be done, a classic version AC Black Flag may be too.
It is worth noting that some of the changes are largely positive or at least net neutral. AC Shadows' the weather system comes into being Assassin's Creed Black Flagfor one, which is one of the best weather systems in the entire game – at least since then Red Dead 2. In the meantime, Skull and bones assets are reportedly reused AC Black Flagwhich is a net neutral. Skull and bones may be Ubisoft's derided “AAAA game,” but reusing those assets is harmless to the experience and allows Ubisoft to apply talent elsewhere. Yet, for every choice that is positive or neutral, there is a tug of war between old school and new school Assassin's Creedpp.
AC Black Flag Resynced may be emblematic of everything that is right and wrong with the AC Franchise
I will always love Assassin's Creedbut let's be fair: the franchise has one of the worst cases of franchise confusion in gaming. I was there. I understand why Ubisoft moved to larger open world RPGs AC Originsas the annual releases created high levels of franchise exhaustion. Instead of franchise-wide, though, we had years where there was fatigue with individual games. AC Valhalla has a lot to love, but it's easily the most bloated game in the franchise. To Ubisoft's credit, the direction of the game seems to appeal to both sides of society. There are smaller games like Assassin's Creed Mirage and Witch (to be released of course), which focuses on more traditional gameplay elements, but there are still larger open world RPGs that Assassin's Creed Shadows. It's a solid strategy.
But they are separate games. Trying to bring both schools of thought together in one game feels like it's destined for greatness or destined to widen the divide in society. We can only wait and see how this manifests, but either way, I'm excited for a “new” Assassin's Creed games to play in 2026.
- Released
-
October 29, 2013
- ESRB
-
M for adults 17+ due to blood, sexual themes, strong language, alcohol use, violence
