The success of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced isn’t just giving Ubisoft another hit game. It’s also reinforcing why the publisher believes remakes can be some of the most financially attractive projects in its portfolio.
During Ubisoft’s Q1 FY27 earnings call, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Frédérick Duguet said ambitious remakes can generate stronger margins than entirely new releases thanks to a combination of lower development costs, reduced marketing expenses, and the built-in recognition that comes with established franchises.
“We expect this one to deliver superior financial performance,” Duguet said when discussing Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. He added that Ubisoft expects the remake’s direct contribution to become positive during the current quarter.
Remakes Can Save Money In Areas
According to Duguet, remakes benefit from reusing assets from the original game while still allowing developers to introduce new gameplay systems, updated features, and modern technology. Although those additions still require monetary investment, the overall budget remains significantly lower than developing a new title from scratch.
Marketing is another advantage with remakes and remasters. Because players already know the franchise, Ubisoft doesn’t have to spend as much introducing the game to audiences.
“You also benefit from the awareness of the game, so you can come with lower marketing, but you don’t have the same price as a full game,” he said. “It’s really a different economic profile.”
The comments come after an impressive launch for Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. Ubisoft revealed the remake has sold 3.5 million copies in its first two weeks, already surpassing the company’s internal sales expectations for the entire fiscal year. The publisher also said it became the highest-rated Assassin’s Creed title since the original Black Flag and delivered the franchise’s strongest-ever PC performance, reaching roughly 105,000 concurrent players on Steam.
Ubisoft appears to be leaning further into that strategy. Alongside Black Flag Resynced, the company recently announced Rayman Legends Retold, another premium remake scheduled for release in October.
Despite the success of the releases, the company stopped short of saying remakes will replace new entries in its biggest franchises, but its latest financial results suggest they are becoming an increasingly important part of Ubisoft’s release strategy. By pairing recognizable brands with modern technology and smaller development budgets, the company believes it can attract both returning fans and first-time players while generating stronger returns than many traditional releases.
What do you think of Ubisoft’s stance on remakes and remasters? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion in the official Insider Gaming Discord.
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Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
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