The ninth generation of consoles was a relatively quiet one. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X consoles have seen some major releases — Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Halo Infinite — but the current generation is characterized by a distinct lack of tentpole exclusives. Bigger games are definitely on the way. Sony has announced that Ramsey will launch in 2025, and Raiders of the Lost Ark will launch on Xbox and PC next month. Until then, a slew of remasters, remakes, and some excellent third-party games will keep gamers busy.
But many older games remain in a state of unrealized potential, waiting to take advantage of the power of current consoles. When the PS5 and Xbox Series S / These patches breathe new life into games that were previously locked to 30fps, bringing a smoother gaming experience to new and existing players.
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate 60 FPS Console Patch
But in the fourth year of the current console generation, updates to older games have become increasingly rare, leaving many great games stuck at 30fps on modern consoles. Ubisoft launched a free 60 fps update for Assassin’s Creed Syndicate on PS5 and Xbox Series S/X on Tuesday, nine years after the game launched. I booted up an updated version of the game on my PS5, and the patch had a transformative effect.
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, the last AC game before the series abandoned its original identity and adopted an RPG style, now runs at 60 fps on PS5 and Xbox Series S/X. On PS5, PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X, the game reaches higher frame rates at full 4K resolution. I installed the game on my PS5 after the patch rolled out late Tuesday, and returned to the game’s Victorian London setting. At 4K at 60fps, Syndicate feels fresh, even if its core gameplay loop hasn’t really stood the test of time. It was repeated then; it is repeated now. But as consoles improve, AC Syndicate’s setting, characters, and story deserve a fresh look.
“Assassin’s Creed Syndicate” is worth revisiting
While Assassin’s Creed Syndicate remains a flawed game and one that divides opinion among fans of the series, it does some things right. The game’s recreation of London is an immersive open world filled with period-accurate detail. Victorian architecture, wide cobbled streets, and familiar landmarks make London a unique world to play in. The city especially comes alive at night, with gray, sombre tones dominating. Syndicate also gives players more options to explore the world, including horse-drawn carriages and the much-maligned grappling hook. Not all of the design choices were great, but the game had a distinct personality that later Assassin’s Creed games failed to capture.
London in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate is filled with period-accurate details
Photo Credit: Ubisoft/Screenshot – Manas Mitul
However, the performance boost highlights the game’s excellent parkour system – a core feature of Assassin’s Creed that has been diluted in subsequent games in the series. Climbing and jumping across rooftops is now smoother than ever on consoles, with a clever climb-down mechanic borrowed from Assassin’s Creed Unity making it feel free-flowing.
The game’s unique urban setting means its environments aren’t as rich or diverse as newer games in the series, but it also brings a focused level of detail to the locations you explore. The visuals are also pretty good considering the game is nearly a decade old, especially the character models and facial animations.
London is full of life at night
Photo Credit: Ubisoft/Screenshot – Manas Mitul
Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate is the first (and only) game in the series to feature two playable protagonists, a feature that will return in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. You play as twin assassins Jacob and Evie Frye, who set foot in London in 1868. The two protagonists have completely different personalities and play styles – Jacob is arrogant and likes to solve tasks head-on; Evie, on the other hand, is more reserved and takes a more secretive, calculated approach. Despite having very different personalities, they work well together as assassins. Syndicate excels at building interesting and competitive chemistry.
Together, the twins weakened the city’s oppressive structures bit by bit, liberating the London boroughs from Templar control and establishing an Assassin stronghold with the help of their own gang. During the course of the story, you’ll also meet historical figures such as Charles Dickens, Florence Nightingale, and Karl Marx. Syndicate also sees the return of open-ended “black box” assassinations from Assassin’s Creed Unity. These large-scale missions provided multiple paths to your goal, forcing players to make creative decisions, and remain a highlight to this day.
The game features two playable protagonists, twins Jacob and Evie Frye
Photo Credit: Ubisoft/Screenshot – Manas Mitul
Syndicate has been given a new lease of life on consoles with its latest 60fps patch. Perhaps now is the perfect time to return to a game that, despite its many flaws, remains a reminder of what’s great about the Assassin’s Creed series, striking just the right balance between history and fantasy. After the update, performance is nearly flawless and I’m getting consistent frame rates in new games. However, the patch doesn’t eliminate the bugs and visual glitches that still exist in the game. But the 60fps boost is a welcome upgrade; many other last-gen games could benefit from it. Ubisoft has already rolled out similar updates to other Assassin’s Creed games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Assassin’s Creed Origins. With Assassin’s Creed Syndicate now getting a patch, one can hope that earlier games in the series will also get updates.
In addition to the patch, Ubisoft also announced that all versions of Assassin’s Creed Syndicate will be 75% off until December 3 as part of its Black Friday sale. The game is available for PS5, PS5 Pro, PS4, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, PC (via Ubisoft Connect, Epic Games Store, and Steam), and Amazon Luna. On PlayStation, AC Syndicate is available as part of the game catalog via PS Plus Extra and Deluxe/Premium subscriptions.
