Ubisoft Emphasizes Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Is Not an RPG, Reveals Combat and HUD Details

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced will feature updated combat, but Ubisoft is keen to stress that the game hasn't been turned into an RPG. In a detailed post outlining the new combat mechanics and customizable HUD options for the upcoming remake, Ubisoft repeatedly clarified that these changes don't fundamentally alter the game's genre to resemble more recent entries. "Although health and defense bars are present in default settings, this does not change the fact that Black Flag Resynced remains an action-adventure game," Ubisoft wrote. "The combat works similarly to the original game, with health and defense bars being optional. There are no levels, no gear scores and no progression gates."

This isn't the first time Ubisoft has distanced Black Flag Resynced from newer games that incorporate RPG elements, likely to ensure the title appeals to a broad audience and doesn't seem unrecognizable. "Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced matters deeply to us, and to you," game director Richard Knight said during the game's recent reveal. "That's why we took the time to rebuild it with the care it deserves. This remains a solo adventure and character-driven experience. It is not an RPG. The focus stays on how you play, and how you explore the world."

Like Assassin's Creed Shadows, Black Flag Resynced features a fully customizable HUD, letting players toggle most elements or choose from preset defaults. The "Simple" HUD removes several elements while keeping some for combat and navigation. The "Minimal" HUD further reduces on-screen elements to essentials like health and interaction prompts, which can also be turned off entirely. By default, enemy health and defense bars are visible—a choice Ubisoft made to help players understand the new enemy defense mechanic (timed parries or strong attacks break defense for a takedown). But these can be disabled too.

After years of leaks, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is launching in a few months, currently set for July 9 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. A $200 Collector's Edition is also available, including the same Edward Kenway statue that appeared on Vinted earlier this year.