After a deluge of leaks, Ubisoft has officially unveiled Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. It will release for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on July 9. A full remake of the beloved pirate-themed fourth numbered installment of the Assassin’s Creed series, Black Flag Resynced will bring the tale of Edward Kenway to modern systems, with improved graphics and new story content. It’s available to preorder now from the usual retailers (see it at Amazon), and it comes in several editions. Read on for details about what’s new in this “resync” and what’s included in each edition.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Collector’s Edition
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For collectors and the biggest fans of Black Flag, there’s the $199.99 collector’s edition, which comes with the game itself, plus a host of physical and digital extras:
- Edward Kenway figurine (31cm/12inch) – a lifelike statue of Edward Kenway, poised for battle on the deck of the Jackdaw
- Edward’s Leather Logbook – recreated from Edward’s own writings: maps, thoughts, and pirate chronicles bound in leather.
- Metal Brooch – a bold, premium metal Assassin insignia inspired by Edward’s gear.
- Exclusive Steelbook – featuring exclusive art designed especially for the Black Flag Collector’s Edition.
- Sea Shanty Music Sheet – a stylized, age print of a new sea shanty sung aboard the Jackdaw.
- Digital download: Master Assassin Character pack.
- Digital download: Master Assassin Naval pack.
- Digital download: Blackbeard’s Crimson pack – including a pistol, and sword which each provide a unique perk, as well as a costume for Edward
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced – Standard Edition
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced
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The standard edition retails for $59.99 and comes with the game itself, plus any applicable preorder bonuses (see below).
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced – Digital Deluxe Edition
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The digital deluxe edition comes with the game itself, plus a handful of in-game items and extras. Here’s what you get:
- The Master Assassin Character Pack: Edward costume, sword, pistol, and trinket with unique perks
- The Master Assassin Naval Pack: sail set, ship’s pet, crew attire, wheel, figurehead, and hull trim
Preorder Bonus
Preorder the game, and you’ll receive the following in-game items for free:
- Blackbeard’s Crimson Pack
- Crimson Costume
- Crimson Sword
- Crimson Pistol
What Is Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced?
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a remake of the swashbuckling 2013 game Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, which came out just as the Xbox 360 and PS3 were being succeeded by the Xbox One and PS4. The historical portion (aka the vast majority) of the game takes place during the Golden Age of Piracy (1715 – 1722) and focuses on sailing massive ships and committing stealth murder in the West Indies during that time.
This new edition features graphical and gameplay improvements, bringing it more in line with the most recent entry, Assassin’s Creed Shadows. That’s a good thing, as I’ve been playing some AC games from that era recently, and the controls feel a little slow and dated.
It’s been remade on the latest Anvil engine, so it should look like a modern game. It has enhanced lighting, high-res textures, and a new dynamic weather system. The combat system has been entirely reworked to provide faster, more fluid attacks and combos. You can now perform a perfect parry to open up your target, for instance.
Movement has been improved, so you can now perform smoother parkour moves. Tailing and escort missions no longer end if you get discovered — the world adapts when you’re seen. They’ve also added three new officers, each with a new narrative backstory quest for you to play. Getting the officers on your side grants you new sea warfare capabilities. You can also acquire a new pet: a cat or monkey for your ship, the Jackdaw.
You can check out our review of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag for more info about the original game.
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Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN’s board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.
