“No thanks!” - Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake Resynced being review bombed on Steam for single-player microtransactions

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced launched on July 9 to strong commercial and critical success. The remake sold over 2 million copies in its first 24 hours, generating approximately $14 million in gross revenue for Ubisoft. The game achieved 99,451 concurrent players on Steam—a franchise record—and earned an impressive 84 on Metacritic, making it the highest-rated Assassin’s Creed title since the original 2013 Black Flag.

However, the launch was immediately marred by player backlash over aggressive monetization practices. The $60 standard edition launched with approximately $85 worth of optional DLC content, including nine cosmetic packs priced at $10 each for protagonist Edward Kenway and his ship, plus a $5 map-reveal pack. This prompted widespread negative Steam reviews that brought the game to “Mixed” ratings on launch day, though sentiment gradually improved to “Mostly Positive.”

In response to criticism, Ubisoft emphasized that all DLC is purely optional and that the standard edition represents the “full, complete experience.” The publisher argued that cosmetic packs and convenience purchases don’t impact core gameplay. This defense reflects longstanding player concerns about Ubisoft’s monetization approach—a pattern the company maintains doesn’t diminish the base product, even as community sentiment remains divided on value and accessibility.

Sources

• “No thanks!” - Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake Resynced being review bombed on Steam for single-player microtransactions
• AC Black Flag Resynced Is A Hit, But People Are Particularly Upset About One Thing
• ‘Additional Packs Are Entirely Optional’: Ubisoft Responds to Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Microtransactions Backlash, as $60 Game Arrives With $85 of DLC
• Ubisoft Responds to Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Microtransaction Backlash
• Ubisoft tells Black Flag microtransaction critics that they control the DLC they buy
• Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced’s standard edition is “is the full, complete experience”, Ubisoft insist in response to Steam DLC furore