Ubisoft has released the final major update for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, introducing several highly requested features including New Game Plus and a new Nightmare difficulty mode. This update, version 1.0.8, is now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
The download size for the patch varies by platform, ranging from 2GB to 4.5GB on PC and PlayStation, but reaching a substantial 15.5GB on Xbox.
New Game Plus and Exclusive Currency
The headline addition is the New Game Plus (NG+) mode, which allows players to restart the game while retaining certain upgrades and items from their previous playthrough. Specifically, Edward's tools, upgrades, weapons, and trinkets carry over, as do the Jackdaw's upgrades, officer abilities, and pets. Players will also keep all their money, materials, trade goods, unlocked outfits, hideout progression, and Kenway fleet ships. All treasure maps and items purchased from the store are also retained. However, quest-related items do not transfer, and forts must be recaptured, with the map's fog of war reset.
NG+ introduces a new exclusive currency called Escudos, earned through completing challenges and opening chests. This currency can be used to acquire exclusive outfits and items, and players can also exchange existing Reales for Escudos at the General Store. The difficulty increases with each NG+ run, featuring more frequent elite soldiers and higher-ranked ships. Players can undertake NG+ up to five times, with the challenge escalating with each subsequent playthrough.
Nightmare Difficulty and Gameplay Changes
Alongside NG+, the update introduces Nightmare Mode, a challenging new difficulty setting. In this mode, enemy reaction times are accelerated, and they deal increased damage. Parry timings become tighter, and ranged enemies will more aggressively target the player. A significant change is the removal of the one-shot kill safety net, meaning players can now be instantly killed by high burst damage from bullets and explosives, even if they have remaining health. Ubisoft aims for this mode to provide a "harsh experience where every duel can be your last."
Additional Content and Fixes
The patch also adds new community chests hidden throughout the game world, along with new cosmetic items, takedown animations, and a comprehensive list of bug fixes. The full changelog is available on the official Assassin's Creed website.
While this marks the final major update for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, the game is reportedly heading to the Nintendo Switch 2, with that version expected to include all previously released content.