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Black Flag Resynced Tops Steam but Faces Bug, DLC Backlash and Layoffs

Record player numbers and strong critic scores are running alongside a reported save‑wiping quest bug, costly day‑one DLC and planned layoffs that could harm Ubisoft's reputation.

Overview

  • The full remake, led by Ubisoft Singapore with 14 partner studios, launched on Thursday, July 9 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC and reworks the 2013 game with rebuilt systems, new officer mechanics and extra missions.
  • Critics have rated the game highly (Metacritic around 84) and SteamDB showed a peak near 99,000 concurrent players, marking the biggest same‑day Steam debut in the Assassin’s Creed series.
  • Journalist Stephen Totilo reported a bug in Kingston involving unfinished Templar Hunt sidequest chains that can block progress and erase hours of play, and Ubisoft says it has reproduced the issue and is preparing a patch.
  • Players have reacted strongly to roughly $80 of optional day‑one DLC and single‑player microtransactions, driving mixed Steam reviews and prompts from Ubisoft to emphasize that the standard edition contains the full single‑player experience.
  • About 51 roles at Ubisoft Barcelona who worked on the remake are set to be cut and the studio has organized strikes, a development that employees and outlets say has cast a shadow over the launch and highlights broader industry restructuring trends.