Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced has just launched, and it hasn’t done too badly right out of the gate. It got largely positive reviews from various media outlets, including ours, as we gave it a 9/10 overall for the fantastic remodeling work that Ubisoft seems to have done. Moreover, Black Flag Resynced was performing well financially, reportedly outselling AC Shadows 5-to-1 during the Steam pre-sale window. However, after the launch date, the tides began to shift.
While the reviews from critics were largely positive and fans liked the game itself, they quickly turned sour on the way Ubisoft was peddling its latest creation. First, the game costs a full $60, which is absurd money for what is essentially a fresh coat of paint on a 2013 game. After that, and perhaps this was the point that really stung, Ubisoft released 90$ worth of day-1 DLCs for Black Flag Resynced, which weren’t even included in the Deluxe Edition.
Mind you, the Deluxe Edition costs $70, which is what you would expect to pay for a full-fat AAA title in 2026. Fans quickly turned to Steam reviews to express their displeasure, and Ubisoft seems to have caught on that the winds are changing. Currently, Black Flag Resynced sits at “mixed” reviews, but it started at “mostly negative” after fans started review bombing it for the overpriced and aggressive microtransactions.
Now, Ubisoft has responded to these negative reviews on Steam. They start off by saying that the Standard Edition is the full, complete experience, and has every mission and exploration point available. Of course, they had to add the cherry on top by saying that those DLCs are “optional extras” for players who want them, not a necessity.
On the surface, this statement sounds reasonable, but if you look at the DLC list, there are clearly some elements in there that can favor paying players. There is a resource pack filled with gold and crafting materials, as well as a map pack that adds exploration markers to the in-game map to help you find treasures more easily. Therefore, it clearly provides a distinct gameplay advantage over non-paying players.
Ubisoft has previously done this with its earlier Assassin’s Creed games, too, and once notoriously said that the paid DLC was for those players who “value their time.” That comes across as incredibly crass and tone-deaf, and apparently, they have not learned in the time since. Maybe this is why previous Assassin’s Creed games like AC Shadows struggled to break new ground, and why Ubisoft has to keep closing studios and laying off employees everywhere.
Regardless of Ubisoft’s aggressive microtransaction strategy, the game itself is not half-bad. Black Flag Resynced plays quite nicely, and while there is a bug here or there (such as the cutscenes being locked to 30FPS for some reason), the overall gameplay and graphics are next level. Whether or not it is worth $60 is something that you have to decide for yourself, but the game is a nice way to experience Black Flag for the first time if you never played the original.
However, it does say something about a publisher when they release a remake for nearly the price of a new AAA game, and then release DLC packs that are even more expensive than the game for some reason. That’s Ubisoft for you.
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[PC Hardware Specialist]
Usman Saleem brings 8+ years of comprehensive PC hardware expertise to the table. His journey in the tech world has involved in-depth tech analysis and insightful PC hardware reviews, perfecting over 6+ years of dedicated work. Usman’s commitment to staying authentic and relevant in the field is underscored by many professional certifications, including a recent one in Google IT Support Specialization.
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