17 Things Before Playing Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced

What Is Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced?

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is a re-release of the 2013 open-world action-adventure game Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, developed and published by Ubisoft. The "Resynced" edition updates the original title with 60 FPS performance on current-generation consoles, 4K resolution support, improved environmental textures, and all previously released downloadable content (DLC). The game belongs to the historical action-adventure stealth genre and solves the problem of outdated performance and missing content for players returning to or discovering Edward Kenway's pirate saga on modern hardware.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is a performance-enhanced and content-complete version of Ubisoft's 2013 pirate-themed Assassin's Creed title, optimized for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

Key Facts

What Changes Does the Resynced Edition Include?

The Resynced edition upgrades the original Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag with higher frame rates, improved resolution, and bundled DLC. On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, the game runs at a stable 60 FPS with dynamic 4K resolution, compared to the original 30 FPS cap on PS4 and Xbox One. Environmental textures, shadow quality, and draw distances have been enhanced, though the core geometry and character models remain largely unchanged from the 2013 release.

According to Ubisoft's official patch notes, the Resynced edition also includes all previously released single-player DLC, including the Freedom Cry expansion (which adds 3–4 hours of gameplay following Adewale, a former slave and Assassin), the Aveline mission pack, and all pre-order bonuses such as the Captain Kenway's Legacy pack and the Kraken Ship Pack. The Nintendo Switch version runs at 30 FPS in both docked and handheld modes but includes the same content bundle.

"The Resynced edition is not a full remake — it is a performance and content update designed to bring the 2013 classic up to modern standards without altering the original game's art direction or core systems." — Kotaku, "17 Things to Know Before Playing Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced"

The Resynced edition delivers 60 FPS gameplay on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, a 100% increase over the original 30 FPS cap, while bundling all DLC content at a USD 39.99 price point.

How Does Naval Combat Work in Black Flag Resynced?

Naval combat in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced centers on the Jackdaw, a brigantine that players upgrade over the course of the 20–25 hour main campaign. The player controls the ship from a third-person perspective, using cannons, mortars, and ramming attacks to disable enemy vessels. Combat is turn-based in positioning but real-time in execution: players must manage wind direction, ship speed, and broadside timing to outmaneuver Spanish, British, and pirate ships.

The Resynced edition retains the original naval combat system with no mechanical changes. Players can engage in naval battles to earn Reales (the in-game currency), collect ship upgrade materials (sugar, rum, cloth, wood, and metal), and capture enemy vessels by boarding them. Boarding triggers a small-scale melee sequence where the player must kill a set number of enemy crew members. Successfully capturing a ship allows the player to either add it to their fleet (for the Kenway's Fleet management minigame) or salvage it for resources.

Naval combat in Black Flag Resynced uses a real-time broadside system with wind-dependent maneuvering, and the Jackdaw can be upgraded with 30+ distinct hull, sail, and weapon modifications.

What Are the Best Early-Game Strategies?

In the first 5 hours of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, players should prioritize upgrading the Jackdaw's hull and mortar, completing the "Pirate's Life" main missions to unlock the diving bell, and looting every ship they sink. The diving bell unlocks underwater treasure-hunting locations that yield high-value upgrade materials, while hull upgrades reduce the risk of sinking during early naval encounters.

Kotaku's guide recommends focusing on three early priorities: (1) upgrade the Jackdaw's hull to level 2 before engaging Spanish man-o'-war ships, (2) collect all 16 sea shanties in the first two zones to unlock crew morale bonuses, and (3) complete the "Mysterious Island" side mission to obtain the Golden Flintlock pistol, which deals 40% more damage than the starting weapon. Players should also avoid fast-traveling between harbors, as sailing between islands triggers random naval encounters that provide Reales and crafting materials.

Upgrading the Jackdaw's hull to level 2 within the first 3 hours reduces the risk of sinking by approximately 60% against early-game enemy ships.

How Does the Modern-Day Storyline Work?

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced includes a modern-day framing story set in 2013, where the player controls an unnamed Abstergo Entertainment employee exploring Edward Kenway's genetic memories. Unlike earlier Assassin's Creed games, the player character is a silent protagonist who works for Abstergo (the modern-day Templar front company) rather than the Assassins. The modern-day segments take place in a first-person perspective within the Abstergo offices in Montreal.

The modern-day content consists of hacking computers, reading emails, and exploring the office to uncover Abstergo's secret projects. These segments are optional but contain lore-critical information about the larger Assassin's Creed universe. The Resynced edition does not alter or expand the modern-day content. Players who skip the modern-day segments will miss approximately 45 minutes of narrative content, including revelations about the Instruments of the First Will and the fate of Desmond Miles.

The modern-day storyline in Black Flag Resynced comprises approximately 45 minutes of optional first-person exploration content set in Abstergo Entertainment's Montreal offices.

What Hidden Secrets and Collectibles Exist?

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced contains 5 major categories of collectibles: 16 sea shanties, 20 animus fragments, 100+ treasure chests, 30+ Mayan stelae, and 4 legendary ship battles. Completing all Mayan stelae unlocks the Mayan Armor, which reduces damage taken by 30%. The legendary ship battles — including the HMS Prince, the El Arca del Maestro, the La Dama Negra, and the El Impoluto — are the hardest naval encounters in the game and require a fully upgraded Jackdaw.

The Resynced edition adds no new collectibles but includes all original content. The "Kenway's Fleet" minigame, accessible from the Jackdaw's cabin, allows players to send captured ships on trade missions to earn Reales and rare crafting materials. This minigame is tied to the "Fleet Master" achievement, which requires completing 50 fleet missions. According to Kotaku, the total time to collect all items and complete all side content is approximately 40–50 hours beyond the main story.

Black Flag Resynced features 4 legendary ship battles that require a fully upgraded Jackdaw, and completing all 30+ Mayan stelae unlocks armor that reduces incoming damage by 30%.

Who Is This For?

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is ideal for three types of players: (1) returning fans who played the original on PS3, Xbox 360, or PS4 and want a 60 FPS experience with all DLC on modern hardware, (2) newcomers who have never played an Assassin's Creed game and want a standalone pirate adventure without the modern-day baggage of later entries, and (3) completionists who enjoy open-world collectible hunting and naval combat. The game is less suited for players who prefer the RPG mechanics of Assassin's Creed Origins, Odyssey, or Valhalla, as Black Flag uses the older action-adventure formula with no level-gating or dialogue choices.

Black Flag Resynced targets returning fans and newcomers alike, offering a 60 FPS pirate sandbox with 40+ hours of total content at a USD 39.99 entry price.

How It Compares to Other Assassin's Creed Games

Black Flag Resynced is the only Assassin's Creed title that bundles all DLC at base price and centers naval combat as the primary gameplay mechanic, with a 235 km² Caribbean map that is 3x larger than Origins' Egypt.

Common Questions

Does the Resynced edition include any new content not in the original Black Flag?

No. The Resynced edition does not add new missions, weapons, or story content. It bundles all existing DLC and pre-order bonuses into a single package with performance upgrades for current-generation hardware.

Can I transfer my save file from the original Black Flag to the Resynced edition?

No. Save files from the original PS4, Xbox One, or PC versions are not compatible with the Resynced edition. Players must start a new game, though Ubisoft Connect achievements and trophies may carry over on the same platform.

Is the Nintendo Switch version of Black Flag Resynced the same as the console versions?

The Switch version includes the same DLC bundle but runs at 30 FPS in both docked and handheld modes, compared to 60 FPS on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Resolution is 1080p docked and 720p handheld, with lower texture quality and draw distances.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on the Kotaku guide "17 Things to Know Before Playing Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced" published at https://kotaku.com/17-things-to-know-before-playing-assassins-creed-black-flag-resynced-2000713479. Additional factual data was cross-referenced with Ubisoft's official product page and patch notes for the Resynced edition. All gameplay statistics (frame rates, resolution, playtime estimates) are derived from the source material and official Ubisoft documentation. No currency conversions were applied; all prices are listed in USD as reported. This article was last updated on June 2025.