The seemingly endless Assassin’s Creed franchise has over a dozen mainline entries, but only a handful of them are as highly regarded as Black Flag. It’s often seen as the series’ peak and the turning point before its decline. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has confirmed that multiple Assassin’s Creed remakes are in the works, and while a Black Flag remake hasn’t been officially announced, leaks suggest that it could be the first title in the series to get a full remake.
Recent Assassin’s Creed games have gotten a mixed reception from fans, so Ubisoft can’t afford to get the remake of a fan-favorite game wrong. Unfortunately, the rumors about the Black Flag remake don’t seem promising. There are reports that the studio plans to remove entire portions of the original and replace them with new content, which could end up alienating fans.
Leaks Show the Black Flag Remake Is Abandoning Modern-Day Scenes
Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag Edward Conway holding pistol in front of ship
Recent entries in the Assassin’s Creed franchise have leaned harder into historical RPG elements, but the modern-day sci-fi storyline is what ties the whole series together. In Black Flag, this took the form of first-person sections where players live life as an Abstergo employee outside the Animus. These segments weren’t as exciting as the high-seas adventure, and some players even thought they were a slog, but they were still an integral part of Edward Kenway’s story.
Many fans would be open to Ubisoft improving these sections in a Black Flag remake, but leaks suggest that the developer plans to remove them from the game completely. Ubisoft will reportedly be replacing Black Flag’s modern-day sections with new content that was cut from the original, and will focus more on Edward and Mary Read.
While that storyline sounds intriguing, it would be a mistake for Ubisoft to abandon the modern-day elements that defined the original games. The most recent release in the franchise, AC: Shadows, didn’t have a modern-day storyline at all, and that choice was heavily criticized by fans. If Ubisoft wants to get the franchise back on track, they need to stay true to both the original Black Flag and the series’ roots.
The Black Flag Remake Should Be True to the Original
Credit: Image via Ubisoft
While the planned story changes have gotten more attention, leaks show that Ubisoft also plans to update Black Flag’s gameplay. Reportedly, the combat and gear systems will be closer to the RPG-style mechanics of recent Assassin’s Creed titles rather than the original design. That’s a change that’s sure to divide fans, since many would rather see no changes at all.
That said, why would Ubisoft bother to remake the game if they weren’t planning to make some updates? If they were only going to make visual improvements, they could just remaster the game and call it a day. There’s nothing wrong with refining Black Flag, but Ubisoft needs to avoid straying away from the things that made the game special.
Part of Black Flag’s magic was its gameplay. The mix of stealth and action felt seamless, and the naval combat remains some of the best seen in gaming. If Ubisoft gives Black Flag the full RPG treatment, they’ll need to strike a careful balance between modern mechanics and the original’s style.
As one of the most beloved entries in the entire franchise, mishandling a remake of Black Flag could be disastrous for Ubisoft. If it’s bogged down by the aggressive microtransactions that have plagued Ubisoft games or fails to capture the magic of the original, even longtime fans might jump ship. The franchise has been divided ever since Origins shifted the formula, but one thing everyone agrees on is that a Black Flag remake deserves the utmost care.
Edward Kenway’s story is a fan favorite, and it feels incomplete without the modern-day sections, even if Ubisoft seems ready to cut them. Shadows introduced the Animus Hub as a central spot for modern-day lore, and going forward, that might become the new standard for the series. Either way, it’s crucial that the full story of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag stays accessible for players.
Fans love Black Flag for a reason, and a remake is the perfect opportunity for Ubisoft to get the franchise back on track. Hopefully, the response to these leaks will convince Ubisoft to make a new version of Black Flag that feels like a better version of the original.