Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced: Fidelity or Performance?
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is one of those games where the graphics mode choice actually matters. Fidelity Mode gives the Caribbean a richer visual presentation, especially with extended ray tracing and reflections, but Performance Mode makes the game feel better in the places where Black Flag spends most of its time: sword fights, parkour, ship combat, camera movement, and long cleanup sessions across the map.
After weighing that tradeoff, I would use Performance Mode for a normal playthrough. Fidelity is worth trying if you want to see the prettiest version of the remake, but the 30 FPS target is a noticeable cost in a game built around constant movement. If you have a 120Hz display, Balanced Mode may be the better visual compromise because it targets 40 FPS while keeping the stronger ray-tracing features. Ubisoft lists Performance at 60 FPS, Fidelity at 30 FPS, and Balanced at 40 FPS on supported displays.
Best Graphics Mode
The best graphics mode depends on your display and console, but the short version is that Performance Mode should be the default for most players. It keeps the game moving at a 60 FPS target, which suits Black Flag Resynced’s mix of melee combat, climbing, aiming, and naval battles better than Fidelity Mode’s heavier 30 FPS presentation.
| Setup | Recommended Mode | Why |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 or Xbox Series X on a 60Hz TV | Performance | The 60 FPS target is the best fit for a full playthrough |
| PS5 or Xbox Series X on a 120Hz TV | Balanced | Targets 40 FPS while keeping extended ray tracing |
| PS5 Pro | Performance | Gets smoother play while retaining more advanced ray-tracing support |
| Screenshot-focused play | Fidelity | Best for image quality when responsiveness matters less |
I would not treat Fidelity Mode as the “premium” way to play just because it is the visual-first option. It can absolutely look better in still scenes, but Black Flag Resynced is rarely a still scene. You are usually turning the camera, climbing through uneven geometry, steering through storms, or fighting someone who has made the poor career choice of standing near Edward Kenway.
What Fidelity Mode Is Best For
Fidelity Mode is the mode to try when you want the richest image the base consoles can produce. On base PS5, ray-traced specular reflections are available in Balanced and Fidelity, while ray-traced global illumination is enabled across all graphics modes.
That extra visual work is easiest to appreciate in slower moments. Reflections on water, wet surfaces, lighting across cities, and scenic ocean views all benefit from the stronger ray-tracing setup. In a pirate game where the ocean is basically the second lead, that is not a meaningless upgrade.
The catch is the 30 FPS target. Fidelity Mode makes more sense if you are exploring slowly, taking screenshots, comparing graphics modes, or playing from a couch where frame rate does not bother you much. I would not use it for long combat-heavy sessions, fort assaults, boarding fights, or trophy cleanup. The game looks better, but it also feels heavier, and that trade follows you everywhere.
Why Performance Mode Is Better for Most Players
Performance Mode targets 60 FPS, and that is the setting that best matches how Black Flag Resynced actually plays. The remake has better visuals than the original, but underneath the new rendering work, this is still an Assassin’s Creed game about movement, timing, and camera control.
The higher frame-rate target helps in small ways that add up quickly. Sword fights are easier to read, parkour feels less sticky, aiming tools is cleaner, and ship combat is easier to follow when you are watching enemy angles, bracing for impact, and lining up cannon fire.
Performance Mode also makes the long parts of the game feel better. Collectible cleanup, exploration, fast travel loops, hunting, naval contracts, and location completion all involve a lot of repeated movement. Over a full playthrough, I would rather have the smoother mode for dozens of hours than slightly better reflections during the moments where I stop and stare.
Where Balanced Mode Fits In
Balanced Mode is the option that makes the Fidelity-versus-Performance question more interesting, but only if your setup supports it. It targets 40 FPS, requires a 120Hz display, and keeps extended ray tracing on base consoles.
That 40 FPS target is not just a random middle number. On a 120Hz screen, 40 FPS divides evenly into the refresh rate, which is why it can feel much smoother than 30 while still giving the game more rendering budget than 60. It is not as responsive as Performance, but it is much easier to live with than Fidelity.
If you have a 120Hz TV, I would test Balanced Mode before choosing Fidelity. It gives you much of the visual appeal people want from the quality mode without making the whole game feel as heavy. Our Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Balanced Mode guide goes deeper on the 40 FPS target and why the display requirement matters.
Best Mode on PS5 Pro
On PS5 Pro, Performance Mode is the easiest recommendation. The Pro version supports ray-traced specular reflections across all graphics modes, instead of limiting them to Balanced and Fidelity like base PS5.
That changes the usual tradeoff. On the base console, Performance Mode gives up some visual features to reach 60 FPS. On PS5 Pro, Performance Mode keeps more of the high-end presentation while still feeling smoother. Fidelity Mode may still be useful for comparison shots, but I would not pick it as the main way to play.
This is one of the rare cases where the stronger hardware makes the recommendation less complicated. Use the 60 FPS mode and let the Pro do what you paid it to do.
Final Recommendation
Use Performance Mode if you are playing Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced normally on a 60Hz display. Use Balanced Mode if you have a 120Hz display and want a better-looking mode that does not fall all the way to 30 FPS. Use Fidelity Mode when you care more about image quality than responsiveness, especially for screenshots or slow exploration.
My order would be Performance first, Balanced second, and Fidelity third for regular play. Fidelity can win the comparison screenshot, but Performance does a better job supporting the actual game: fighting, sailing, climbing, exploring, and occasionally committing a shocking amount of property damage in the name of progress.
For a broader console setup breakdown, our Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced best PS5 settings guide covers the best graphics mode by console and display type.
