Black Flag Resynced Pre-Orders Explode on Steam, Analyst Eyes Big Sales Win

Pre-orders for Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced are tracking far ahead of the franchise’s latest mainline entry, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, with new Steam numbers pointing to a sizable sales rebound for the remade pirate adventure.

Black Flag Resynced pre-orders surge versus Shadows

Industry analyst Rhys Elliot of Alinea Analytics reports that Steam pre-orders for Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced are 5.39 times higher than pre-orders for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Elliot’s figures also suggest that Resynced has already surpassed the lifetime sales of Skull & Bones, Ubisoft’s expensive pirate spinoff that originally spun out of Black Flag’s naval technology and ultimately launched in 2024.

In a post on Substack, Elliot argued that Resynced appears positioned to become a “much-needed hit for Ubisoft.” He tied that expectation to the mixed reaction that followed Shadows, as well as a difficult period for the publisher that included frequent layoffs and studio shutdowns.

The Complete Assassin’s Creed Timeline

Assassin’s Creed Shadows launched in 2025 after a delay and months of pre-release controversy, but it struggled to convert the anticipation around its long-awaited feudal Japan setting into sustained momentum. Ubisoft recently rolled out a final update for the game, ending ongoing support after just 12 months and only one post-launch expansion. Elliot’s comparison notes that this attention span is a small slice compared with other recent franchise standouts such as Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Valhalla.

Ubisoft has not shared updated sales totals for Shadows. Instead, the publisher has only said the game crossed the 5 million player mark in mid-2025, and that figure also counts players who accessed the title through subscription service availability.

Elliot, however, estimates that Shadows is now at 5.7 million copies sold. He further breaks down the sales mix: 23.8% on PC (roughly 1.3 million units), 53.6% on PS5, and 23.6% on Xbox.

For context, Elliot notes that Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is widely understood to have sold at least 10 million copies, and Valhalla has also cleared that threshold—though Ubisoft has avoided publishing exact numbers. Ubisoft has instead stated that Valhalla generated $1 billion in revenue.

Black Flag Resynced is described as a ground-up remake centered on the core storyline from Black Flag, set in the Caribbean. The narrative follows Edward Kenway and includes well-known pirate figures such as Blackbeard, Charles Vane, and Ann Bonney. The remake does not include the original’s multiplayer mode or modern-day segments; instead, Elliot says a substantial amount of new content has been added directly into the main campaign.

Elliot’s conclusion frames the decision as strategic timing: “Black Flag Resynced is a timely strategy for a struggling Ubisoft.” He points to the publisher’s “turbulent few years” involving costly development cycles, delays, and high-profile misses—including Skull & Bones, which he notes grew out of Black Flag’s own naval technology. In his view, Ubisoft is now dealing with “fractured pipelines,” and he argues that building a brand-new IP from scratch is a six-to-eight-year bet that can cost hundreds of millions.

He also contrasts that risk with what he calls the “low-risk alternative” of high-fidelity remakes of beloved legacy entries. Elliot argues that these remakes can reuse design approaches that already have strong reputations, reducing creative uncertainty while still drawing on an established audience.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced launches this Thursday, July 9. Players can use a release-times guide to see the exact unlock time for their region.

Player impact: a remade hit versus a curtailed support cycle

The contrast in messaging and outcomes is clear: Shadows ended support after a year with just one expansion, while Ubisoft is now leaning on a remake of one of the franchise’s most recognizable eras—especially after Resynced shows strong early pre-order interest.

Elliot’s breakdown also highlights how platform mix could matter for the franchise’s next steps: if Resynced follows the same pattern as earlier Ubisoft successes, it could reinforce the value of targeting major console audiences while still capturing PC players.

Most importantly for players, Black Flag Resynced is positioned as a campaign-focused rebuild: the modern-day and multiplayer content from the original are left out, while new material is being added to the central story featuring Edward Kenway and the pirate roster.

What to watch next

• Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced releases on Thursday, July 9.
• Whether the strong Steam pre-order momentum translates into sustained post-launch sales.
• Ubisoft’s willingness to share more granular sales data going forward, after limiting updates for Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

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Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social.