Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced: PS5 Pro Update Fixes Visual Issues
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is getting attention for how much control it gives players over visuals and feel—plus new guidance on which settings to use on different consoles. A recent update also rechecked the PS5 Pro build after a community report of a visual issue during early testing, underscoring how much the game’s presentation can vary by platform and mode.
Release-window and platform notes
The game supports multiple graphics modes across consoles, with different target frame rates and resolutions. The most notable splits are between Xbox Series S (limited to a single graphics mode at 30 fps), the PS5 and Xbox Series X (three modes), and the PS5 Pro (three modes with higher internal resolutions). A community-informed follow-up on July 14 specifically revisited the PS5 Pro version due to a visual bug seen during testing.
| Platform / Mode | Targets (FPS / Resolution / Ray Tracing) |
|---|---|
| PS5 & Xbox Series X – Performance | 60 fps / 1080p / RT lighting (low) |
| PS5 & Xbox Series X – Balanced | 40 fps / 1080p / RT lighting (high), RT reflections, hair simulation during gameplay |
| PS5 & Xbox Series X – Fidelity | 30 fps / 1296p / RT lighting (high), RT reflections, hair simulation during gameplay |
| PS5 Pro – Performance | 60 fps / 1188p / RT lighting (high), RT reflections, hair simulation during gameplay |
| PS5 Pro – Balanced | 40 fps / 1242p / RT lighting (high), RT reflections, hair simulation during gameplay |
| PS5 Pro – Fidelity | 30 fps / 1512p / RT lighting (high), RT reflections, hair simulation during gameplay |
| Xbox Series S | Single graphics mode at 30 fps |
Which graphics mode to pick—and what changes in practice
On PS5 and Xbox Series X, three options are available: Performance, Balanced, and Fidelity. While Performance aims for 60 fps, the guidance focuses on trade-offs in reflections and distant detail. In the Balanced option, the game runs at 40 fps and keeps ray-traced reflections on-screen—an approach described as especially striking during ship travel over the sea.
By contrast, the Performance mode is reported to show visible reflection “breaks” when parts of the environment block what’s being reflected. The write-up also notes that shadows in Performance appear noticeably lighter, and that level detail drops farther away from the player. Examples given include missing flowering detail on trees, disappearing moss on rooftops, and barrels becoming harder to recognize or simplified at distance.
There’s also a usability constraint: the 40 fps Balanced mode can only be selected when the console is connected to a 120 Hz-capable display. Without that, players are limited to the Fidelity option, which runs at 30 fps.
PS5 Pro looks sharper—while adding light flicker and occasional edge artifacts
The PS5 Pro versions target higher effective resolutions across all three modes (with Fidelity reaching 1512p). The improvement is described as a major jump in clarity thanks to PSSR working alongside the Pro’s increased resolution budget.
However, the PS5 Pro build is not presented as artifact-free. Light flickering is mentioned when covered elements reappear—for instance, when vegetation overlays a distant balcony and then the balcony’s stone supports become visible again. In addition, some edges aren’t perfectly smoothed, leading to occasional “stair-step” aliasing on planks, ropes, and crates. The same guidance says these edge issues lessen as you move from Performance toward Balanced, where the effect largely fades.
Post-processing and motion settings: chromatic aberration, motion blur, and camera stability
Beyond raw performance targets, the game’s options include several post-processing controls with direct gameplay impact.
Chromatic Aberration: This setting simulates the distortion of a camera lens during Edward’s underwater moments. With it enabled, the underwater image becomes slightly darkened near the edges and shows colored fringing—described as splitting into the three base color channels around elements like seaweed or coral. The recommended choice is to turn it off, specifically to better enjoy the underwater visuals without the lens effect.
Motion Blur (movement blur): Motion Blur is implemented as a distance- and speed-dependent softening of the scene. It can help make the lower-framerate Fidelity mode feel less “choppy,” and the guidance recommends disabling it in Performance, while enabling it in Balanced and Fidelity. The rationale is that Balanced runs at 40 fps (smoother than 30), while still benefiting from blur to reduce perceived stutter—though the 40 fps mode may still feel a bit slower than 60 fps.
Image shake and camera rocking: These options matter most for players prone to motion sickness. The default behavior keeps camera shake enabled, and turning it off disables the image “rattle” during ship travel—so the camera no longer sways in the same way. The menu also includes an “surface” option that can enable a focus point if you need a stable reference while moving around the ship.
July 14 follow-up: PS5 Pro visual bug rechecked
On July 14, the settings guidance was updated after a community report prompted a recheck of the PS5 Pro version. The reason was a visual bug encountered during the testing phase, tying the later discussion of PS5 Pro artifacts and flicker back to that earlier issue.
