Ubisoft is bringing one of its most beloved pirate-era adventures back into the spotlight with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, a faithful remake of the classic Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag that originally launched 13 years ago. The studio has been sharing fresh details in the lead-up to release, promising a modernized experience that still respects what made the original such a fan favorite. Most of the changes revealed so far have been met with excitement, but one new combat detail has sparked a wave of disappointment across the community.
During a recent AMA hosted by the official Ubisoft Assassin’s Creed team on Reddit, fans asked a question that has long been tied to the game’s identity: will Edward Kenway’s iconic hidden blade be usable as a selectable weapon, just like it was in the original release? For many players, fighting with the hidden blades wasn’t just a gimmick—it was part of the fantasy of being an Assassin, and it helped keep combat feeling varied.
Creative Director Paul Fu confirmed that the hidden blade will not be a selectable weapon in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. Instead, Edward’s primary combat loadout will focus on dual swords, while the hidden blade becomes a contextual tool reserved for specific moments. According to Fu, it’s designed as a lethal, “bloody” takedown that triggers when you break an enemy’s defense, rather than something you can freely equip for open combat.
This is a meaningful shift from the original Black Flag, where players could choose to fight using only the hidden blades and enjoy a range of dedicated finisher animations. In Resynced, the change suggests the hidden blade will largely be limited to takedown animations and stealth assassinations, making it a situational combat element instead of a full weapon option.
Not surprisingly, the reaction has been mixed—and in many corners, openly critical. Some fans worry that relying heavily on dual swords could make the moment-to-moment combat feel repetitive over time. Others have pointed out that fewer weapon options could mean a smaller pool of finishing moves, which might lead to the same animations playing too often. Several commenters have already urged Ubisoft to reconsider and add hidden blades as a selectable weapon, either in a pre-launch adjustment or as a post-launch update.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is scheduled to release on July 9 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. As anticipation builds, many fans are hoping Ubisoft will continue listening closely—especially when it comes to features that defined the original and helped make Black Flag one of the most memorable entries in the Assassin’s Creed series.
