Image credit: Ubisoft
Update download sizes vary by platform
Title Update 1.0.8 restores several combat animations from the original game and adds New Game+, Nightmare Mode and cosmetics. Ubisoft’s patch notes say the update is scheduled for October 27 at 7.30 pm IST across all platforms. This is the game’s final major content update, though Ubisoft says quality-of-life updates will follow over the coming months. Existing purchases made with Reales retain their prices and vendors. Nightmare Mode increases enemy damage in ground combat to 1.8 times the normal level, shortens parry timing and removes the white glint warning from enemy attacks. Remaining hidden above an enemy requires a height of at least six metres instead of four. Naval damage increases, while underwater exploration drains oxygen faster and increases damage from sharks, sea urchins, and jellyfish. Ubisoft lists the download at 15.5GB on Xbox Series X|S, 4.5GB on PlayStation 5, 4.3GB on PC and 2.1GB on Steam.
The developer says these chests will be harder to find and is leaving their locations for the community to discover. Players starting New Game+ keep Edward’s tools, upgrades, unlocked weapons, and trinkets. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced restores the original takedowns. New Game+ lets players restart Edward Kenway’s journey while keeping equipment, upgrades, and other progress. Repeat playthroughs become harder, with more elite soldiers and powerful ships appearing. Players can also earn a new currency to unlock additional outfits and items. The update restores hidden blade, unarmed, single sword, and gunblade takedown animations from the original Black Flag. New cosmetic items include outfits, pet skins and trinkets that players can collect through New Game+. Ubisoft has also added hidden community chests, some containing player-requested rewards. The Jackdaw’s upgrades, unlocked officer abilities, and pets also carry over, although officers must be recruited again before returning to the ship. Money, materials, trade goods, unlocked outfit options, hideout progress, Kenway fleet ships, and store purchases carry over. Quest-related items are removed, while the map’s fog resets and forts must be captured again. The mode supports five New Game+ playthroughs, with difficulty increasing each time. Players can also exchange Reales for Escudos at the General Store and spend them on New Game+-exclusive outfits and items. Ranged enemies fire more often, and protection against one-shot kills is disabled. Stealth also becomes less forgiving. Enemies detect Edward faster, investigate for longer and can hear him moving faster than a walk. The patch also addresses offline-launch problems, freezes during tavern games, quest progression issues and cases where the Jackdaw continued to look damaged after repairs. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.
Elite soldiers appear more frequently, and maximum-rank ships begin patrolling the seas. Players can earn a new currency, Escudos, by completing challenges and looting previously opened chests.