Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Makes Big Change to the Hidden Blade

Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced changes the hidden blade’s role in combat from that of an all-purpose weapon to a contextual finisher that can be activated in certain scenarios. Ubisoft has confirmed as much in a recent overview of the upcoming remake that also reveals plenty of other details about what fans can expect from Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced.

While hidden blades are among the defining features of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, they have changed significantly over the years in both style and gameplay function. In the original Black Flag, Edward Kenway could use up to two hidden blades for both assassinations and combat. The game’s combat system allowed players to equip the hidden blades from the weapon wheel and use them like any other weapon. While their range and damage were limited, they were a memorable option due to their unique animations.

Black Flag Not the Only Assassin’s Creed Remake Currently in Development, It Is Claimed

Another remake of a classic Assassin’s Creed game is currently in the works alongside Black Flag Resynced, according to multiple trusted sources.

Black Flag Resynced Drops Equippable Hidden Blades from Assassin’s Creed 4

Black Flag Resynced changes how hidden blades work by removing the option to equip them during combat. A Ubisoft representative confirmed the change in a late April 2026 AMA on the r/AssassinsCreed subreddit. According to the official explanation, the remake’s combat has been reworked so that Edward’s sabers are now his primary weapons rather than one of several options for fighting enemies. Hidden blades are still used for fatal takedowns, but those can only be triggered after breaking an enemy’s guard, making them entirely contextual. The combat rework aligns with other confirmed Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced changes that suggest a more transformative reimagining of the original than a typical remake.

Outside combat, the hidden blades will still work as they normally do, allowing Edward to assassinate unsuspecting enemies. Running assassinations from the original are expected to return, though Ubisoft has yet to confirm that outright. More broadly, Edward’s arsenal includes some of the simplest hidden blades in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, so while many fans enjoyed using them in combat, Ubisoft may have reworked their combat applications in an attempt to make them more meaningful.

Other Black Flag Resynced Tidbits Confirmed in Ubisoft’s Recent AMA

No multiplayer
New story content featuring both returning and new characters
Map size remains 16 x 16 km, but the world is denser, with new islands and new city locations
All original side activities return
Royal Convoys return but may be harder to find
Kenway’s Fleet returns, now accessible in-game from the hideout or Edward’s captain’s cabin, with no phone app required
DNA sequence menu is gone
Gore is included, but no dismemberment
Naval autopilot/Pathfinder support
Classic wanted system returns
Separately remappable ground and naval controls
Ray tracing support across all graphics modes
- Baked-in lighting option still exists for better performance
Original sea shanties return, with some new ones added to the mix

Black Flag Resynced‘s combat changes extend beyond hidden blades being reworked into contextual finishers. Ubisoft also said pistols and other tools will have new animations and applications in the upcoming remake, all designed to make combat more reactive. During the recent AMA, the developer-publisher also revealed that the reimagined version of Assassin’s Creed 4 will feature some original content, including new islands and visitable locations inside cities. Naval navigation has been updated with pathfinding and autopilot support comparable to modern series entries, while the original’s wanted system remains largely intact, with progressively larger fleets of pirate hunters appearing as Edward’s notoriety level rises.

Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced will release worldwide on July 9, 2026. The upcoming remake is expected to be the final major entry in the franchise before Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe, an original open-world action adventure in the 16th-century Holy Roman Empire that’s in the works at Ubisoft Montreal. According to recent reports, AC Hexe is likely to launch between June and November 2027.