LAUNCH DAY UPDATE (July 9): Black Flag Resynced is out now on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC — and reviews are in: 84 on Metacritic, making it the highest-rated Assassin's Creed since the original Black Flag (2013), per Kotaku and GamesRadar. IGN scored it 9/10 (“brings one of the best games in the series up to today's standards”), Game Informer praised it, while GameSpot was the big dissenter calling it a “bad remake.” Everything below — price, editions, file size, PC specs — stands updated.

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Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is Ubisoft's full remake of 2013's beloved pirate adventure Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag — and it launches this Thursday, July 9, 2026, simultaneously on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Rebuilt from the ground up on the modern Anvil engine, it puts players back in the boots of pirate-assassin Edward Kenway in the golden-age Caribbean, with the standard edition priced at $59.99. IGN has already published the first 18 minutes of gameplay, and it looks like far more than a fresh coat of paint.

When Does Black Flag Resynced Come Out? Release Date, Platforms and Preload

Black Flag Resynced releases July 9, 2026 across all platforms at once. On PC it will be available through Steam, the Epic Games Store and the Ubisoft Store — no launcher-exclusive window this time.

  • Release date: Thursday, July 9, 2026
  • Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam, Epic, Ubisoft Store)
  • Preload: Per reports, preloads are already live on Xbox Series X|S, with PlayStation 5 preloads opening July 7 and PC preloading ahead of the July 9 unlock (reported at 2 PM UTC).

Is Black Flag Resynced a Remake or a Remaster? What Actually Changed

This is the big question — and the answer is a full remake, not a remaster. Ubisoft has recreated the game from the ground up on its latest Anvil engine, the same technology behind Assassin's Creed Shadows. IGN's preview called it "much more than a facelift," and the early gameplay backs that up:

  • Combat has been reworked, along with overhauled stealth, parkour and naval systems.
  • New stealth mechanics and updated naval weapons appear throughout the gameplay footage.
  • The original's infamous tailing missions have been fixed, per coverage of the reveal.
  • Visually it adds ray tracing, micropolygon rendering, dynamic weather and environmental destruction.
  • Reports point to new story content on top of the original campaign.
  • One cut: the 2013 game's multiplayer mode is gone.

Importantly, it stays an action-adventure game — Ubisoft has not converted Edward's tale into a loot-heavy RPG like Valhalla or Odyssey.

Black Flag Resynced Price and Editions

  • Standard Edition: $59.99
  • Deluxe Edition: $69.99, reported to include the Master Assassin pack (Edward costume, sword, pistol and trinket)
  • Collector's Edition: $200, listed for PS5, Xbox Series X and PC per GameSpot
  • Pre-order bonus (all editions): Blackbeard's Crimson Pack — a unique Edward costume plus a pistol and sword with special perks

Black Flag Resynced PC Requirements and Steam Deck

Reported PC specs scale widely. On the low end, a GTX 1660 targets 1080p play; at the top, Ubisoft points to an RTX 4090 for 4K with ray tracing enabled. DLSS support is included, which should give mid-range cards plenty of headroom.

The handheld news is even better: Ubisoft has confirmed Black Flag Resynced will be Steam Deck Verified at launch — meaning it runs on Valve's handheld out of the box, no tinkering required. For a series that skipped Steam entirely for years, a day-one Verified badge is a notable shift.

Should You Play It? What the Early Gameplay Shows

The original Black Flag is routinely ranked among the best games in the franchise, and the remake appears to keep what made it special — the open Caribbean, the shanties, the naval broadsides — while modernizing everything around it. IGN's 18-minute gameplay video shows the reworked stealth approach and naval weapons in action, and GameSpot's coverage frames Resynced as a genuine transformation of the pirate classic rather than a nostalgia cash-in.

If you loved the 2013 original, the overhauled systems, fixed mission design and new story content are the draw. If you never played it, this is now the definitive way to experience one of the most celebrated pirate games ever made — on console, PC or Steam Deck — starting July 9.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced?

It is Ubisoft's ground-up remake of 2013's Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, rebuilt on the modern Anvil engine used for AC Shadows. Edward Kenway returns with overhauled combat, stealth, parkour and naval systems, plus new story content.

When does Black Flag Resynced come out?

July 9, 2026, launching simultaneously on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store and the Ubisoft Store.

Is Black Flag Resynced a remake or a remaster?

A full remake. The game was recreated from the ground up on Ubisoft's latest Anvil engine with reworked combat, new stealth mechanics, fixed tailing missions, updated naval weapons, ray tracing and dynamic weather. The original's multiplayer was cut.

What are the Black Flag Resynced PC requirements?

Reported specs range from a GTX 1660 for 1080p up to an RTX 4090 for 4K with ray tracing, with DLSS supported. Ubisoft has confirmed it will be Steam Deck Verified at launch.