Ubisoft's AC Black Flag Resynced PS5 Disc: So Physical, It Needs the Internet to Exist?
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Ubisoft's upcoming *Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced* for PS5, despite being a physical edition, requires an internet connection for installation, sparking player frustration over game preservation and the diminishing value of physical media.
Right, so you reckon you've just picked up a physical copy of *Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced* for your PS5, eh? Well, buckle up, buttercup, because it seems Ubisoft has pulled a bit of a digital magic trick: that 'physical' disc actually needs an internet connection just to install the bloomin' game. Fair dinkum, as Siddharth Wadhwan over at Game Rant pointed out recently, the labels on the European and US packaging for *Resynced* explicitly state an internet connection is required for installation on PlayStation 5.
Now, before we grab our pitchforks – or rather, our internet cables – let's not forget what *Resynced* actually is. It's the much-anticipated remake of the beloved *Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag*, finally giving Edward Kenway's swashbuckling adventures a modern glow-up. We're talking updated graphics, revamped combat, and even six whole hours of previously cut content – treasure that almost got lost to the digital abyss, ironically enough. Plus, a glorious return to core parkour mechanics, which, let's be fair, many of us have missed something fierce from the RPG-era AC games.
But here's the rub: it's not just a 'nice to have,' it's a 'mate, you literally can't play this without it' kind of situation for the physical PS5 version. *Why* exactly is this happening? Well, it's a trend we've been seeing more and more often, hasn't it? Sometimes it's colossal file sizes that just won't fit on a single Blu-ray disc – a genuine technical hurdle, sure. Other times, it feels a bit like the disc itself is just an expensive access key, with the actual game residing mostly in the cloud. We saw this with *Indiana Jones and the Great Circle* reportedly acting more as a digital handshake than a full game on disc, and *Crimson Desert* also had its own online requirements. It's a bit like buying a map to a hidden treasure, only to find the treasure itself is actually streamed to your phone. A proper wizard's illusion, that.
And gamers? They're not exactly throwing a party, are they? The response has been pretty frosty, with folks calling for boycotts and lamenting the 'uselessness' of these discs if the game ever gets pulled from online stores. It's not just about convenience; it's about preservation. Remember what happened when Ubisoft shut down the servers for *The Crew*? Poof, gone. Imagine shelling out for a 'physical' game, only for it to become a fancy paperweight years down the line because the digital faucet got turned off. It raises a proper ruckus about true ownership, doesn't it?
Having said all that, despite this rather sticky wicket with the installation, there's still a palpable buzz for *Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced* itself. The promise of a faithful yet enhanced remake seems to be keeping many fans chuffed, and frankly, I'm keen to see Edward Kenway back in action with those shiny new bits. It's set to drop on July 9, 2026, so we've got a bit of time to ponder the philosophical implications of 'physical' media in a digital age. But seriously, is this the future of physical games? Discs that are more of a promise than a product? It's enough to make a digital wizard like me scratch my head and wonder what other reality-bending surprises the gaming industry has up its sleeve.
Tags: Assassin's Creed, Game Preservation, Physical Media, PS5, Gaming Industry
Original article: Game Rant