Why Did Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced's Steam Rating Go From Negative to Positive?
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced launched to overwhelmingly negative reviews on Steam. Yet within just a few days, the game's overall rating climbed to "Mostly Positive." So what's behind this sudden turnaround? One of the most debated questions in the Steam community is exactly this: did the rating recover on its own, or were reviews quietly removed?
The Launch-Day Review Bombing Effect
One of the most common reasons a game scores low at launch is the short-lived wave of negative reviews known as "review bombing." This pattern isn't unique to Black Flag Resynced; it's a recurring phenomenon with major releases. In the first hours, the dissatisfied and typically loudest crowd dominates, while the more positive majority is still busy actually playing the game. As total playtime accumulates, positive reviews begin to balance the picture.
How Do Refunds Affect the Score?
There's a critical detail in Steam's rating mechanics: a review left on a refunded copy no longer counts toward the overall score, even if it still appears on the page. Black Flag Resynced reportedly saw a high refund rate at launch. These refunds nullified the score impact of a portion of the launch-day negative reviews, helping the total move upward.
Deleted Reviews and the SteamDB Discrepancy
The most eye-catching part of the discussion is the difference in review counts between SteamDB and Steam itself. Community members point out that the total number of reviews shown on SteamDB is noticeably higher than what appears on the Steam page. This gap is attributed to the removal of reviews flagged as guideline violations, such as one-liners, profanity, and direct attacks on the publisher. Some users interpret this as a transparency issue, while others argue the removed content was against the rules in the first place.
The Natural Trajectory: Why Do Most Games Climb Over Time?
Another point experienced users emphasize is this: someone who researches and buys a product is already inclined to view it positively. Players who dislike the premise or aren't interested usually don't buy it, or they refund it, meaning they never contribute to the score. That's why even games without serious technical issues tend to settle in the 75-90% range over time. The level Black Flag Resynced reached points to a picture close to that average.
Does a Higher Rating Mean the Game Is a Success?
A high rating doesn't always translate to commercial success. According to one perspective raised in the thread, a "Mostly Positive" score may only indicate an average level of acceptance; what really matters are metrics like sales figures and concurrent player counts. The rating recovery shows that the game's technical issues are starting to be resolved and that a satisfied player base is making its voice heard, but that alone doesn't tell the whole story.
Summary
There's no single reason for Black Flag Resynced's Steam rating shifting from "Mostly Negative" to "Mostly Positive." The fading of launch-day review bombing, refunded reviews no longer counting toward the score, the removal of guideline-violating reviews, and the growth of positive reviews over time all combined to drive this change. When interpreting Steam ratings, looking not at a single number but at how reviews evolve over time — and the dynamics behind them — offers a far healthier approach.