Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced shows off Havana — and it looks stunning

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is less than two weeks from launch, and a fresh gameplay video gives the clearest look yet at what Ubisoft has built. IGN published an eight-minute walkthrough focused entirely on Havana — the game's main Cuban city and one of its densest open-world locations. The original 2013 Black Flag already made Havana feel vivid; this remake pushes it significantly further.

The look

The rebuilt Anvil engine brings ray tracing, micropolygon rendering, and a dynamic weather system that puts Resynced on visual par with Assassin's Creed Shadows. NPC density is noticeably higher, character behavior is more varied, and — most practically — there are no loading screens when entering cities. You sail in, dock, and walk straight into Havana without a break. Draw distance and texture resolution have both been pushed well beyond what current-generation consoles could manage in 2013.

Edward Kenway also moves differently. New acrobatic moves and slightly faster animations make parkour feel closer to the post-Shadows standard while keeping the classic, grounded tone of the original.

The combat and content

The combat system is the biggest mechanical departure. Ubisoft has replaced the older, looser system with a parry-driven, action-oriented approach — deliberately stepping away from the RPG loot mechanics of Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla. Hands-on previews, per Metacritic's roundup, describe the parry-and-takedown rhythm as a blend of classic AC feel and modern fluidity. Legacy players may need an adjustment period, but the consensus is that it holds up.

Beyond the visual and combat overhaul, Resynced adds new story arcs for Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet, three new ship officers with their own origin missions, and additional quests that Ubisoft estimates add 10–15 hours of content.

Dates and price

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced launches July 9 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, the Ubisoft Store, and the Epic Games Store. The Standard Edition is $59.99; Deluxe is $69.99 (digital only). The $199.99 Collector's Edition is sold out at the Ubisoft Official store, but local retailers may still have stock. The game is also included day-one with Ubisoft+.