Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, a remake of the 2013 pirate adventure, has sparked outrage among players due to £75 worth of day-one downloadable content (DLC). Despite smashing the series' concurrent player record on Steam with nearly 100,000 players, the game's monetization strategy has drawn sharp criticism.
Player Backlash Over DLC Packs
Players who purchased the deluxe edition expected to receive the complete game, but discovered nine additional DLC packs costing £76.21 in total when bought separately. Most packs offer cosmetic items for protagonist Edward Kenway and his ship, along with a map pack to locate collectibles. None provide substantial gameplay content, according to reviews.
One Steam user commented: 'Bought the Deluxe Edition, foolishly thinking I'd be buying the full game. Here I was thinking Ubisoft had turned a new leaf, then wham, they hit you with over £75 of additional day one DLC.' Another added: 'What's the point of getting the deluxe version when, immediately in game, there's $84.91 worth of DLC that you don't own. Ubisoft also deleted my Uplay points, so there's even more I can't access. Ubisoft, who hurt you?!'
Ubisoft Responds to Criticism
Ubisoft addressed the complaints in a Steam forum reply: 'We've seen your feedback since launch, and we're reading all of it. Thank you for caring this much about Black Flag Resynced. We want to be clear on one point: the standard edition is the full, complete experience. Every mission, every island, the full story and the complete world are all there, with nothing held back. The additional packs are entirely optional extras for players who want them, never a requirement to enjoy or complete the game. We'll keep listening as you play!'
Despite the controversy, Black Flag Resynced holds a 71% 'mostly positive' rating on Steam, suggesting the discontent is limited to a vocal minority.
Layoffs at Ubisoft Barcelona
Separately, Insider Gaming reported that 51 developers at Ubisoft Barcelona were laid off prior to the game's launch. Employees at the studio plan to strike over the next week to contest the decision, adding another layer of turmoil to the release.
