Matt Ryan is stepping back into Edward Kenway's boots for Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced, and the veteran voice actor is already warming up for the role that made him a gaming fixture over a decade ago.
At IGN Live 2026, Ryan discussed bringing the beloved pirate assassin back to life for the remake of the 2013 original. The intervening 13 years have brought significant advances in motion capture technology, and Ryan is redoing portions of his performance to take advantage of those improvements. While much of his original vocal work remains intact, the studio has layered in fresh material designed to deepen the character.
Ryan painted an appealing picture of what longtime fans can expect. "It will feel like the original game but on steroids," he told the crowd, emphasizing that Resynced preserves the experience that made Black Flag stand out within the Assassin's Creed franchise while expanding its storytelling. The remake adds story elements that should resonate with players who've spent the past 13 years wondering what happened next.
For newcomers to the series, Ryan had a different kind of enthusiasm. "All of the people who are going to discover it for the first time, I'm envious of them," he said, acknowledging the particular joy of experiencing a beloved game with fresh eyes.
The appeal of Black Flag itself seems straightforward to Ryan. "Who doesn't love pirates? And pirates and assassins? What can you say?" The combination has proven durable enough to cement the 2013 release as a franchise standout.
One unexpected detail emerged during the panel: Ryan's connection to the game's sea shanties runs deeper than typical voice work. He revealed that he actually learned a sea shanty while attending school in Wales, giving him genuine experience with the maritime songs that pepper the original game. That familiarity paid off when he performed "Drunken Sailor" for the crowd, drawing enthusiastic participation from the audience.
Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced arrives July 9, 2026, on PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S.
Author Emily Chen: "Ryan's obvious affection for the role and the property comes through clearly, and that kind of genuine enthusiasm from a returning performer can make all the difference in whether a remake feels like a cash grab or a labor of love."
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