Assassin's Creed 4 - Historical Context Trailer

Ubisoft has released a new trailer which places Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag in its historical context. The developers have stated they will be trying to portray piracy in a more realistic manner than most, avoiding the stereotypes about "peg-legs, bad teeth, and chatty parrots." The game takes place in the early 18th Century and centers around Edward Kenway, the father of Haytham in Assassin's Creed III.

Here are a few excerpts from a recent Q & A with scriptwriter Darby McDevitt.

On the surge of piracy in the 18th Century:

But of course there were definite events that sparked this particular surge, and in the case of AC4BF, it is the Treaty of Utrecht that pushes our characters into a life of maritime crime. This treaty, which effectively ended all hostile engagements between the major European empires, led to a massive purge of active British soldiers from the royal navy. The British just didn’t have enough land in the West Indies to warrant a massive standing army. So it’s not difficult to understand why so many sailors now idle and out of work, would turn to plundering Spanish ships for a quick score of rum, food, tobacco, sugar and gold. And once they got used to the idea of plundering Spaniards, why stop there?


On the difference between Assasssin's Creed IV's approach to portraying piracy as opposed to previous portrayals:

The biggest difference will be in the scope of our portrayal. When we wanted to make a game set in this era, we didn’t say “We want to make a Pirate game”… we challenged ourselves further with “We want to make a game about the early 18th century, of which pirates were a large part.” And I think we have succeeded. We wouldn’t have been content to simply paint everything in this world with a pirate theme – this would have been dull and easy. Instead, we focused on bringing the entire era to life… and this means paying attention to as many details as possible. What songs were the people singing, what crops were they growing, what sort of people were roaming these oceans, what was life as a sailor like, etc. Assassin’s Creed has always put a huge emphasis on historical immersion and AC4BF is no exception.

You can find the video after the break.

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - World Gameplay Premier

Ubisoft recently revealed the first details about Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag via a press release, introducing players to protagonist Edward Kenway. Due to the pirate theme, much of the game will take place on the seas, with Kenway caught up in a battle between assassins and templars as he loots his way to a more powerful ship. Of course, there will be plenty of action on land too, with three main hub-worlds to explore, including Havana, Kingston, and Nassau.

To help promote the triple-A title, Ubisoft has released a new trailer which shows some gameplay footage of Black Flag, along with a voiceover which gives a brief introduction to the characters and setting of the game. Video after the break.

Assassin's Creed IV details and release date revealed

Ubisoft has officially announced the first details about Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. The main protagonist is Edward Kenway, the father of Haytham Kenway from the previous game, who leaves the navy to become a pirate and winds up in a battle between assassins and templars. A significant portion of the game will take place on the seas, as Edward starts out with a modest vessel and sets out for loot as he tries to upgrade to a more powerful ship. There will be roughly 50 locations to visit in this portion of the game.

There will also be plenty of action on solid ground as well, with three main hub-worlds to explore - Havana, Kingston, and Nassau.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

The year is 1715. Pirates rule the Caribbean and have established their own lawless Republic. Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag introduces Edward Kenway, a brash rebel Pirate Assassin. 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. Take part in an incredible and seamless adventure. Discover the most diverse Assassin’s Creed world ever created. From Kingston to Nassau, explore 50 unique locations where you can live the life of a pirate. Become one of the most feared pirates in the West Indies. Stand amongst legendary names as you establish a lawless Republic in the Bahamas and relive the truly explosive events that defined the Golden Age of Piracy.

The Wii U version is scheduled for release in North America on October 29th, and Europe on November 1st. Two trailers after the break.

Source: Polygon

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag coming to Wii U

Ubisoft has confirmed that Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag is the next installment in the series and will be coming to the Wii U, as well as the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. According to rumors, the game is set in 1715 and stars a pirate assassin named Edward Kenway, who is the father of Haytham and grandfather of Connor from Assassin's Creed III. The first official details will be coming out on Monday, March 4th.

Source: Eurogamer