Assassin's Creed Black Flag's remake, titled Resynced, has faced significant backlash on Steam shortly after its July 9th launch, with players review bombing the title over its inclusion of single-player microtransactions. Despite pre-launch revenue projections suggesting it would outperform Assassin's Creed Shadows, the game's Steam reviews have seen a sharp decline, shifting from "Mostly Negative" to "Mixed" due to player dissatisfaction.
Players are voicing concerns about the perceived value proposition, particularly regarding the Deluxe Edition. One highly-rated comment highlights the frustration of purchasing the Deluxe Edition for £59.99, only to be presented with an additional $84.91 worth of 'DLC' upon game launch. While this edition includes an exclusive Edward costume, weapon skins, and naval cosmetic packs, many players feel the extent of purchasable add-ons undermines the initial purchase.
Further criticism targets the availability of items that offer gameplay advantages. Specifically, a resource pack priced at £4.29 provides gold and upgrade materials, while another £4.29 map pack adds exploration markers to the in-game map. While Ubisoft notes these function as shortcuts or time-savers rather than direct power boosts, players feel their presence in a full-priced single-player title is unwarranted.
Some players have also reported that certain in-game store items direct users to open Assassin's Creed Shadows to view the purchased content, adding to the confusion and frustration. The inclusion of these microtransactions is not new to the Assassin's Creed series, with similar implementations appearing in titles from Assassin's Creed Origins onwards. However, their presence in Resynced has reignited player sentiment against the practice in single-player experiences.
In a review of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, it was noted that the 2026 version offers a "perfectly fine way of experiencing this tale," though some additions and changes were not "universally positive." The current furore over microtransactions appears to be a prime example of these mixed reception points.