Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Officially Confirms Controversial Feature

Ubisoft is adding a range of digital restrictions and account requirements to Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced ahead of its anticipated release on July 9. The changes have not been officially detailed in full by Ubisoft, but Steam confirms that players should expect a more tightly controlled PC version of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced at launch, especially when it comes to installation, login requirements, and online verification steps.

The context here isn’t entirely new for Ubisoft. In recent years, the company has steadily moved toward stronger account integration and digital rights management across its PC releases, as have most major publishers. Even when games are sold on platforms like Steam, Ubisoft often requires players to connect those purchases back to its own ecosystem. That means more steps before players can actually play, but also more control for the publisher over how a game like Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is accessed, managed, and sometimes played.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Reveals PC Spec Requirements

Ubisoft shares the PC specifications for Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced, and covers some presets that players can use to guide their options.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Features Denuvo Anti-Tamper Technology

Per the game’s Steam page, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced features Denuvo DRM’s Anti-Tamper tech, which essentially seeks to prevent piracy and unauthorized modification of the game. It works by adding extra layers of protection between the game and the user’s system, making it harder for cracked versions to appear online shortly after release. That said, several Denuvo-protected games have been cracked (Pragmata, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight) despite the latest attempts by Denuvo. Even 2K Games has implemented security checks for some of its games in response.

Complicating this further is that players will need to have a Ubisoft account linked to their Steam account, just to play the game. There’s also extra third-party license terms during setup, as well as a 5-per-day activation limit associated with the software, again despite being purchased through Steam. What that means is that the software can only be installed on 5 machines per day, which isn’t as concerning as it first sounds, but users should still be wary, especially if the number of available machines is more complex than a “traditional” gamer.

Of course, it’s worth noting that several modern games have Denuvo DRM implemented in some way, but that doesn’t mean it’s popular. The loops here are just that, loops, no matter how simple they may be. Many gamers see buying a game as simple as “buy, own, play,” but this purchase asks players to agree to a wider set of rules, logins, and background verification systems, too. Similarly, Sony is being sued over the PlayStation Store’s use of language for requirements that go beyond or outright contradict the assumed “buy, own, play” mindset.

Scratch & Peek

Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as
possible.

Scratch & Peek

Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as possible.

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As Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced approaches its July release, these details are likely to remain a point of discussion, especially among PC players who are sensitive to DRM and always-online requirements. Whether these systems are ultimately received as unnecessary friction, as many will not accept Denuvo at large, will likely depend on how smoothly everything else goes at launch.