In the 2010s, most gamers probably didn’t expect Ubisoft to release a top-notch pirate game set in theAssassin’s Creeduniverse of all things, but that’s exactly what it did with 2013’sAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag. Unlike previousACinstallments that placed a heavy emphasis on stealth, such asAC 2andAC: Revelations,Black Flagtook a more adventurous, swash-buckling approach to gameplay. Indeed,AC 4gave players the definitive pirate experience. It had everything one could ask for from such a game: naval combat, ship-based exploration, lost treasures, sea shanties, and so on. Despite it being a noticeable pivot from the franchise’s traditional formula,Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flagwas widely beloved upon its release, and remains regarded as one of the bestACgames ever made.
It seems Ubisoft holds the title in equally high regard because, according to recent rumors,the company is developing a remake ofAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag. This comes as somewhat of a surprise for multiple reasons. For one, the publisher typically doesn’t remake games from most of its franchises, let aloneAssassin’s Creed. On top of that, out of all the classicACtitles,Black Flagis probably the one game that’s aged the best, so a remake of it doesn’t seem all that necessary. Nonetheless, the reputable industry insider Tom Henderson alleges that Ubisoft is going through with the project, and that it aims to release in November 2025. While it’s nice that the unannouncedremake is apparently arriving so soon, this purported launch window may not be beneficial, as it may come face-to-face with other pirate games.
If the Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag Remake Launches in 2025, It Could Face Stiff Competition
Black Flag’s Remake May Come Face-to-Face with Recent and Upcoming Pirate Games
Pirate video games aren’t exactly all that common, but there’s been more of them coming out lately. In 2024, for instance, Ubisoft releasedSkull and Bones. This live-service multiplayer action-adventure game was initially conceived as an MMO spin-off ofAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flagbefore it became part of its own, separate franchise. The title was infamously in development for about a decade and was meant to launch sometime in 2018, until it was ultimately postponed. After various delays,Skull and Bonesreleased in February of this year to middling reviewsand low sales. Even still, it was one of the more notable pirate games in recent times.
One other pirate game that’s coming out soon isLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. This title, which is a spin-off of RGG andSega’s critically-acclaimedYakuza/Like a Dragonfranchise, takes the series in a bold, new direction. Despite being an RGG game at its core,Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiitakes some cues from pirate games likeAC 4: Black Flag. Besides featuring theLike a Dragonfranchise’s traditional beat-em-up gameplay, it includes naval combat, pirate crew management systems, and ship upgrading mechanics.Pirate Yakuzain Hawaiiwill launch on August 01, 2025; since its release date is so close to the rumoredBlack Flagremake, it may serve as competition for the title.
With AC Shadows on the Horizon, the AC 4 Remake Risks Launching in an Oversaturated Market
Speaking of competition, there’s alsoAssassin’s Creed Shadowsto take into account. This is the next big installment in Ubisoft’s flagship franchise and, after being delayed from its initial November launch date, it’s debuting in February 2025.AC Shadows' release timing may not be good news for the rumoredAC 4remake because, if the two titles launch within the same year, they may cannibalize each other’s sales. Couple that with recent and upcoming pirate games likeSkull and BonesandPirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and the remake may be launched in an oversaturated market if it does come out in November 2025 as allegedly planned.
Fortunately, Tom Henderson’s recent report does seem to suggest thattheBlack Flagremake could be pushed back into 2026. If that happens, it may be beneficial for theAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flagremake, as it could give the game more breathing room by launching at a later date.
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag (2013)
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The year is 1715. Pirates rule the Caribbean and have established their own lawless Republic where corruption, greediness and cruelty are commonplace.Among these outlaws is a brash young captain named Edward Kenway. His fight for glory has earned him the respect of legends like Blackbeard, but also drawn him into the ancient war between Assassins and Templars, a war that may destroy everything the pirates have built.Welcome to the Golden Age of Piracy.
