Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Best PS5 Settings

The best PS5 setting for Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is Performance Mode if you are playing on a standard 60Hz TV, while Balanced Mode is the better pick if your display supports 120Hz. On PS5 Pro, Performance Mode is the easiest recommendation because the console keeps the stronger ray tracing presentation while still targeting 60 frames per second.

Fidelity Mode looks attractive on paper, but I would not use it for most playthroughs. Black Flag Resynced has too much sword fighting, parkour, sailing, ship combat, and camera movement to make 30 frames per second feel like a good trade just for better reflections. The Caribbean should look good, but it should not feel like Edward is wading through wet cement every time a fight starts.

Best PS5 Setting Overall

On a regular PS5, your best setting depends almost entirely on whether your TV supports 120Hz. If it does not, use Performance Mode. If it does, try Balanced Mode first.

Console and Display	Best Graphics Mode	Why
PS5 on a 60Hz TV	Performance Mode	Targets 60 FPS and keeps combat, sailing, and parkour feeling responsive
PS5 on a 120Hz TV	Balanced Mode	Targets 40 FPS while keeping extended ray tracing
PS5 Pro	Performance Mode	Targets 60 FPS while still benefiting from the stronger Pro visual setup
PS5 with visual quality as the only priority	Fidelity Mode	Best image quality target, but limited to 30 FPS

Performance Mode is the safest recommendation because it keeps the game at a 60 FPS target, and that matters in Black Flag Resynced more than it would in a slower RPG or cinematic adventure. Combat timing, camera control, ship battles, and movement all benefit from the smoother frame rate.

Balanced Mode is the more interesting option if your setup supports it. A 40 FPS target does not sound like a huge jump over 30 on paper, but on a 120Hz display it feels noticeably better than Fidelity while preserving more of the high-end lighting and reflection work. I would use Balanced over Fidelity almost every time on a compatible TV.

If you are playing on a 120Hz display, our Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Balanced Mode guide explains why the 40 FPS option can be worth using over Fidelity Mode.

Graphics Modes Explained

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced gives PS5 players three main graphics modes: Performance, Balanced, and Fidelity. The names are familiar, but the differences matter because ray tracing is handled differently across them.

Graphics Mode	Frame Rate Target	Visual Focus	Best For
Performance	60 FPS	Upscaled 4K with standard ray tracing	Most players on PS5
Balanced	40 FPS	Upscaled 4K with extended ray tracing	Players with a 120Hz TV
Fidelity	30 FPS	Upscaled 4K with extended ray tracing	Screenshot-heavy players who prioritize visuals over responsiveness

Performance Mode uses standard ray tracing, which focuses on global illumination rather than the heavier reflection setup. In normal play, that is a sensible compromise because the game still looks modern while staying much more responsive.

Balanced and Fidelity both lean harder into extended ray tracing, including more expensive reflections. That can make water and shiny surfaces look better, which obviously matters in a pirate game built around oceans, rain, docks, polished weapons, and the Jackdaw spending half its life surrounded by very expensive-looking water.

The problem is that Fidelity pays for those visuals by dropping to a 30 FPS target. I do not think that trade is worth it for regular play. The remake’s lighting and water work are impressive, but Black Flag’s best moments are active, not static.

Best PS5 Pro Settings

On PS5 Pro, I would use Performance Mode. The Pro version benefits from stronger upscaling and keeps the higher-end ray tracing presentation across graphics modes, which makes Fidelity Mode much harder to justify.

That changes the usual console tradeoff. On a base PS5, Performance means giving up extended ray tracing for the smoother frame rate. On PS5 Pro, Performance gets much closer to the best of both worlds: 60 FPS target, cleaner upscaling, and the stronger ray tracing feature set still active.

Because of that, Fidelity Mode feels redundant on PS5 Pro unless you are intentionally chasing the most static, image-quality-focused presentation possible. I would rather have the smoother input response for sword fights, boarding actions, and naval combat. Edward is already dramatic enough without adding a 30 FPS tax.

When to Use Balanced Mode

Balanced Mode is worth using if you have a 120Hz display and the option is available. It targets 40 FPS, which sits between Performance and Fidelity while keeping extended ray tracing.

The reason 40 FPS works is that it fits cleanly into a 120Hz refresh rate. That makes it feel much smoother than 30 FPS while still giving the game more visual headroom than a full 60 FPS target. It is one of those settings that sounds underwhelming until you actually play with it for a few minutes.

I would pick Balanced Mode if you care about the better reflections and lighting but still want movement to feel reasonably fluid. It is especially good for exploration, sailing, and slower-paced play where the visual upgrade has time to stand out.

For combat-heavy sessions, Performance Mode still has the edge. If you are taking forts, boarding ships, fighting through dense towns, or doing anything that depends on quick camera control, 60 FPS is the better feel.

The Setting I Would Avoid

Fidelity Mode is the setting I would avoid for most players on PS5. It is not useless, and it can make the game look better in still scenes, but the 30 FPS target hurts the parts of Black Flag Resynced that matter most during actual play.

The biggest issue is not that 30 FPS is unplayable. It is that this specific game is constantly asking you to move quickly, fight groups, climb buildings, steer a ship, aim cannons, and swing the camera across large spaces. Those actions all feel better when the frame rate is higher.

If you mainly want to walk around, admire the remake, take screenshots, or compare reflections, Fidelity Mode has a place. For a normal playthrough, I would only use it briefly to see the visual difference, then go back to Performance or Balanced before the next fight reminds you why frame rate matters.

How to Change Graphics Mode

To change graphics mode in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, open the menu, go to the System tab, enter Settings, and look for the Graphics Mode option near the top. You can switch modes without restarting the game.

Step	What to Do
1	Open the pause menu
2	Go to the System tab
3	Open Settings
4	Find Graphics Mode
5	Choose Performance, Balanced, or Fidelity

If you do not see Balanced Mode, your TV likely does not support 120Hz, your console may not be configured for 120Hz output, or your HDMI setup may not support the mode properly. In that case, Performance Mode is the better choice anyway.

Final Recommendation

Use Performance Mode on PS5 if you are playing on a normal 60Hz display. Use Balanced Mode if you have a 120Hz TV and want a better visual presentation without dropping all the way to 30 FPS. Use Performance Mode on PS5 Pro, where the stronger upscaling and ray tracing support make it the cleanest overall option.

I would only recommend Fidelity Mode if your priority is image quality above everything else. It makes sense for screenshots, comparison captures, or slow exploration, but it is not the mode I would use for the full game. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced looks best when the ocean is gorgeous, but it plays best when Edward, the Jackdaw, and the camera all respond quickly.

Once your graphics mode is set, you can spend more time actually moving through the Caribbean instead of fighting the settings menu. If you are still early in the game, our Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced fast travel guide explains when map travel opens up and how to start cutting down on repeat sailing.