Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, released this week, brings Edward Kenway's pirate adventure to modern consoles with updated graphics, revised controls, and new content. Terry Han, game content director at Ubisoft Singapore, spoke about the challenge of remaking a beloved 13-year-old game as the studio's first lead Assassin's Creed project.
A Daunting Challenge from Scratch
Han explained that despite having the original as a reference, much had to be rebuilt. 'A lot of things actually have to be built from scratch,' he said, citing the need to reconsider assets and props for the modern Anvil engine, especially after Assassin's Creed Shadows pushed destructible environments. The team also had to adapt quests, such as tail missions, to modern standards while retaining the original's action-adventure core.
Ubisoft Singapore leveraged its expertise in naval combat, which it has developed since Assassin's Creed 3. 'We know our strengths in the naval combat experience,' Han noted, adding that the opportunity to modernize gameplay mechanics using the latest engine from Assassin's Creed Shadows was exciting.
Edward Kenway's Enduring Appeal
Han attributed the original game's lasting popularity to its unique protagonist. 'Edward Kenway is a very unique character. It is the first time that you see a character that is more like an outsider,' he said. 'As a player, you sort of grow with him and get exposed to all those elements together with him, both in terms of narrative and gameplay.' The variety of gameplay, from land exploration to naval combat, also contributed to its special place in fans' hearts.
New Content and Narrative Expansion
For Resynced, the team focused on tying up loose ends and expanding character stories. 'We wanted to tie in some of the key characters, try to find some closure for them as well,' Han said, mentioning Blackbeard and Stede as part of the additional content. A long-standing idea was to put a face on the crew and officers, which originated during Assassin's Creed 3's naval combat development. 'We thought that for Resynced, it is a good opportunity for us to leverage on that,' he added.
The writers worked to maintain the original's narrative tone, as players might distinguish new lines from old ones. Han emphasized the challenge of hitting 'that right tone; that right narrative flavour.'
Meeting Player Expectations
Han acknowledged the difficulty of meeting expectations shaped by nostalgia. 'Being able to hit that benchmark of what people remember the game to be... oftentimes we always see that people have entered rose-tinted lenses,' he said. The team strove to deliver a game that plays and looks as players remember the original.
When asked about the future of naval combat outside Assassin's Creed, Han said it depends on the creative vision and setting. 'In the original Assassin's Creed 3, and of course, extending to Black Flag, naval played a huge role in the American Revolution,' he noted. 'Working on the naval combat experience for so long, I think it would definitely be cool to see future possibilities.'
No Plans for Further Remakes Yet
Regarding a potential next remake, Han said he is focused on Resynced's launch. 'I have not considered any other remakes. It's not as simple as one person's preference... the feasibility of working on a remake needs to be greatly evaluated before we can even jump on one,' he stated. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is available now on PS5, Xbox, and PC.
