While Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced has been a hit with critics, the number of microtransactions the game launched with has prompted fans to leave numerous negative reviews online, leading Ubisoft to address the situation directly. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is the first ground-up remake in the AC franchise, bringing one of the most celebrated games in the series to modern audiences.
Ubisoft’s remake of the critically acclaimed Assassin’s Creed Black Flag from 2013 is finally here, and while the game appears to be everything critics wanted from it and more, the release has been bittersweet. Following its launch, Ubisoft Barcelona suffered significant layoffs and was even disbanded entirely. What’s more, the customary Assassin’s Creed microtransactions have once again caused a stir among the fanbase, prompting the Ubisoft support team to address the situation.
Ubisoft Responds to Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced’s $85 DLC Backlash
As a whole, Steam reviews for Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced have been mostly positive; however, several reviews have voiced discontent about the game launching with almost $85 worth of cosmetic DLC. One particular user named JokeRzZ left a review that currently has 10,066 “helpful” reactions on Steam, stating, “you slap us with 85 euros worth of DLC packs that are just not cosmetic but give you a gameplay advantage,” refferring to the Map Pack content, to which Ubisoft support responded, “The additional packs are entirely optional extras for players who want them, never a requirement to enjoy or complete the game.” Ubisoft support also reiterated that the base edition of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is the complete game, with nothing held back or missing, essentially telling JokeRzZ that cosmetics don’t influence the game’s content in any meaningful way. They are simply there for fans who want different outfits.
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It isn’t uncommon for Assassin’s Creed games to launch with tons of DLC and microtransactions. As a matter of fact, Assassin’s Creed Shadows had its own bouts of microtransaction controversy, which ultimately led the Assistant Game Director to say that all the DLC is what lets them do interesting things with AC in the first place. Black Flag Resynced is admittedly a little intense with its microtransaction load at launch, which currently has 9 DLC packs totaling $85, but given that this is an already complete game with likely no future content coming, there’s a good chance that Ubisoft is just front-loading all the content before moving on to the next project. Most of these microtransactions are cosmetic, except for the “Map Pack,” which shortens player exploration time by putting all collectibles on the in-game map.
However, fans online aren’t necessarily objecting to the cosmetic DLC because it is or isn’t required to enjoy the game. Rather, fans dislike the practice of launching a full-priced remake with day-one DLC that ultimately costs more than the game’s base price. Fans who want everything Black Flag Resynced has to offer, including cosmetics and the Deluxe Edition, would be spending a total of $155 for the complete package. However, some fans are defending Ubisoft, arguing that cosmetics are commonplace and harmless, with even the Ubisoft CEO saying they make the game more fun.
Regardless of where fans stand on the microtransaction debate, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced has seen a strong launch. Black Flag Resynced even broke a Steam record at release despite fans leaving negative reviews about the DLC. As publishers continue to find ways to monetize games in an industry where margins keep shrinking, cosmetic day-one microtransactions might just be here to stay.
- Released
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July 9, 2026
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence / In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
