Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Dev Comments on Decision Not to Include Original Multiplayer and DLC

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced creative director Paul Fu has explained Ubisoft’s decision to exclude the original multiplayer and DLC from the upcoming remake. Some fans were a little surprised when it was revealed that Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced would focus only on the original single-player experience, but there’s a reason that Ubisoft has taken this route.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced was finally revealed with an impressive showcase earlier this month. The project, which is a full, ground-up remake of 2013’s Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, was one of gaming’s worst-kept secrets. There were rumors about its existence as early as 2023, and the evidence only continued to mount in the years since. With a July 9, 2026, release date now confirmed, hype for the remake can really start to build.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag Started a Trend That Has Plagued the Franchise for 13 Years

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag is often called the best in the franchise, but it started one practice that has marred the series.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Multiplayer and DLC Exclusion Was ‘Clear Choice’

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced creative director Paul Fu spoke at a preview event attended by GamesRadar+, where he discussed why the remake doesn’t include the original multiplayer and Freedom Cry, the game’s standalone expansion. “With Resynced, we made a clear choice. It is a pure, story-driven adventure, and we are fully focused on Edward’s adventures in the Caribbean,” he explained. “As a result of this focus, we have elected to not have the multiplayer and not have the DLC. However, Resynced is built from the ground up with new story [content], new content and new systems, but we’re staying true to its action adventure roots. Resynced is a 2026 take on the original legend, and for those of us who are curious, the original will still be available.”

Fu’s statement rings true. Those who want to play multiplayer in Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag can still do so. In fact, it remains the only game in the series to have official PvP servers live, after several Assassin’s Creed games’ multiplayer servers were shut down in 2022. Aside from that, the decision makes sense. There’s no guarantee players would actually play the multiplayer modes, and it could prove an unwise use of development resources. Honing in on Edward’s story allows Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced to deliver a more polished experience that stays true to the elements that fans loved most about the original.

…for those of us who are curious, the original will still be available.

Because the remake’s reveal was so recent, there are still some unknowns about what will and won’t be featured in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. Ubisoft has already taken some steps to clear things up for fans. It was quickly confirmed that Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is ditching the modern-day segments, which were already cut down in the original game following the conclusion of Desmond Miles’ story in Revelations. While some will be disappointed that certain elements of Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag are missing from the remake, it seems every decision is being made deliberately to ensure the game is the best it can be.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)

Beyond Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, Hexe is expected to be the next mainline game in the series. A release timeline for the game, which was first announced in 2022, has yet to be revealed. However, a recent report indicated that Assassin’s Creed Hexe is stripping out the game’s magical elements, so it will be very interesting to see how that project continues to develop.