Ubisoft has shared a closer look at the PlayStation 5 Pro enhancements coming to Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced ahead of the game’s launch on July 9, outlining a range of graphical upgrades designed to take advantage of Sony’s latest console.
Built from the ground up using the latest version of Ubisoft’s Anvil engine, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is more than a straightforward remaster of the 2013 classic. The new version includes multiple graphics modes, HDR support, Dolby Atmos audio, DualSense haptic feedback and 60 FPS gameplay options across PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro.
One of the biggest changes is the overhaul of the game’s lighting system. Ubisoft has replaced the original precomputed lighting with fully dynamic lighting powered by hardware-accelerated ray tracing, allowing environments to react in real time to changing weather conditions, the time of day and surrounding light sources.
Ray-traced global illumination is enabled across every graphics mode on both PlayStation 5 models, while ray-traced specular reflections are available in Balanced and Fidelity modes on the standard PS5. On PS5 Pro, specular reflections are supported in every graphics mode, delivering more realistic reflections on surfaces such as water, wet wood and metal.
The upgraded version also introduces a new micropolygon geometry pipeline that continuously adjusts object detail based on distance and camera position. Rather than switching between predefined levels of detail, environments are streamed and refined seamlessly using the PlayStation 5’s high-speed SSD, reducing noticeable pop-in while preserving detail across the world.
PS5 Pro owners will also benefit from additional visual improvements beyond expanded ray tracing. Ubisoft has implemented the latest version of PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), which improves image reconstruction and helps narrow the visual difference between performance-focused and higher-fidelity graphics modes.
Character rendering has also received attention on Sony’s upgraded console. Strand-based hair simulation is available for protagonist Edward Kenway in every graphics mode on PS5 Pro, while nearby NPCs also use the more advanced hair system during gameplay in Fidelity mode. Cinematics will feature strand-based hair for all characters regardless of the selected graphics setting.
Beyond graphics, Ubisoft has modernised the game’s environmental systems using the Anvil engine’s Atmos framework. Weather is now simulated dynamically through interacting systems such as temperature, humidity, wind and vapour density, allowing storms and environmental conditions to evolve naturally. These systems also affect gameplay elements including vegetation, sails, cloth, particles and character hair.
The Caribbean itself has also been updated with a new physically based water rendering system featuring improved tessellation, volumetric foam and dynamic bubble effects. According to Ubisoft, the upgraded ocean reacts more naturally to weather, wind and ship movement, making naval exploration and combat feel more dynamic.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced launches on July 9 for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro.
