Ubisoft Really Wants You to Know That Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is Not an RPG, as It Details Combat and HUD Changes

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced will feature updated combat — but Ubisoft really wants you to know that the game hasn’t been changed to become an RPG.

In a lengthy post detailing the new combat changes and customizable HUD options it has added to the upcoming Black Flag remake, Ubisoft was again at pains to make clear that its updates and alterations had not radically changed the game’s genre, to become more like 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 is not the first time Ubisoft has sought to distance Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced from more recent games that have leaned into RPG mechanics to a greater and lesser extent, presumably in order to ensure the title launches to the widest possible audience — and doesn’t give the suggestion it has been changed beyond recognition.

“Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced matters deeply to us, and to you,” game director Richard Knight said during the game’s recent unveiling. “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.”

Similar to Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft has made Black Flag Resynced’s HUD fully customizable, allowing players to enable or disable most elements and pick from several preset defaults. For example, the game’s “Simple” HUD offering will remove several elements, while still keeping some that will aid your combat and navigation. The “Minimal” HUD setting will pare the on-screen elements down further, displaying only essential information such as health and interaction prompts. Even these can be turned off too, should you wish.

By default, you’ll see enemy health and defense bars — a choice Ubisoft has made to enable players to better understand Resynced’s new enemy defense mechanic. (This is where timed parries, sustained or strong attacks break an enemy’s defense, opening them up to a takedown.) But again, these elements can also be disabled.

After years of leaks, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is now just a few months from launch. The long-awaited remake is currently set to arrive on July 9 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with a $200 Collector’s Edition also available — including the same Edward Kenway statue that popped up on Vinted earlier this year.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social