Summary
Ubisoft’s ten-year-oldAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flaghas been enjoying a boost in player count as its spiritual successorSkull and Boneshas finally been released after years of delays. Having been revealed all the way back in 2017,Skull and Bonestakes the lauded naval combat introduced byAssassin’s Creed 4and expands upon it as an ongoing live service experience, letting players partake in online ship battles in a shared open world.
One of the more widely beloved titles of Ubisoft’s iconic historical stealth franchise,Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flagis remembered as one of the best in the series. The pirate naval combat was a major highlight, as it’s something seldom other AAA games have tried before, let alone anAssassin’s Creedtitle. Swashbuckling protagonist Edward Kenway became a fan-favorite assassin with his tongue-in-cheek personality and ties toAssassin’s Creed 3’s Haytham Kenway. Just last year, rumors began swirling about afull-blown remake ofAssassin’s Creed 4, causing a stir of excitement and speculation around the fanbase.
Just a few days after thelaunch of Ubisoft’sSkull and Bones, Xbox Achievement siteTrueAchievements has noticedthat more and more players are flocking toAssassin’s Creed 4: Blag Flag.Ever sinceSkull and Boneshad its first beta weekend on February 8,Black Flaghas been seeing a growing number of players. This continued throughSkull and Bones’early access launch and, finally, its full launch on February 16. According to TrueAchievements,Blag Flaghas experienced an impressive 31% jump in Xbox players over this two-week period.
It’s difficult to say exactly whyAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flagis seeing such a big boost.Skull and Bonesseems to have had a lukewarm reception, with many feeling like the service title isn’t quite living up toBlag Flag.Instead, many players may be choosing to revisit the decade-old title again for its exceptional naval combat, as well as its on-foot action-adventure gameplay, whichSkull and Bonesdisappointingly lacks. Additionally, TrueAchievements made mention of a recent saleBlack Flagwas a part of last month, where the classicAssassin’s Creedtitle was available for only $8.99. It’s important to note that TrueAchievements only accounts for Xbox gamers, and it’s possibleBlag Flag’s surge could be even larger across players on PC and PlayStation.
What’s Next For Assassin’s Creed Fans?
Time will tell whetherSkull and Boneswill be able to stay afloat as a live service game for years to come. As for fans ofAssassin’s Creed, theBlack Flagremake rumor may still turn out to be true, though Ubisoft certainly has its hands full with a multitude of other majorAssassin’s Creedprojects in development. PerhapsAssassin’s Creedfans may learn more about therumoredBlack Flagremakeor some of the next big titles sometime this year.
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag
WHERE TO PLAY
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.Become Edward Kenway, a charismatic yet brutal pirate captain, trained by Assassins. Edward can effortlessly switch between the Hidden Blade of the Assassin’s Order and all new weaponry, including four flintlock pistols and dual cutlass swords.Discover the largest and most diverse Assassin’s Creed world ever created. From Kingston to Nassau, explore over 75 unique locations where you can live the life of a pirate.
