Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is arguably the most beloved entry in the long-running, widely acclaimed franchise. Released in 2013, the game introduced seafaring features that were praised for their ingenuity and sheer fun factor. The game was so popular, in fact, that Ubisoft green-lit a Pirate-themed game based around these elements not long after. Titled Skull and Bones, this spiritual successor has lagged in development time for years now and seen numerous delays. Long past the time to capitalize on Black Flag‘s popularity, rumors are now floating around that a remake of the Assassin pirate game may be in the works.
According to “two sources who asked not to be named” close with Kotaku, who broke this news, there is a full-blown remake of Black Flag in the early stages of development right now. Supposedly it will not set sail for another few years still, though. Given this, it seems safe to assume this is more than a simple remaster as previous Assassin’s Creed games have received.
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According to these sources, a team at Ubisoft Singapore has been brought on board to modernize the game; what way they intend to do this is unclear. Since Black Flag was first released, the franchise has grown outwardly into an even more sprawling open-world format. Assassin’s Creed: Mirage, launching later this year, aims to bring the scope back to land and reconnect with the franchise’s roots. Whether the Black Flag remake will aim to skew closer to the original or be updated to be larger and more open is unknown at this time.
Will a Black Flag Remake Help Skull and Bones?
Given that Skull and Bones was originally meant to bank on the success of Black Flag, it is possible that a remake of the beloved title may shore up more interest for the title. Although, currently, the game is set to launch sometime late this year or early next year, history has shown the game tends to miss the boat on such dates. Development on Skull and Bones first began in 2013 as an expansion for AC4 before being expanded into a direct MMO spinoff titled Black Flag Infinite. Eventually, Ubisoft raised the anchor and set the game free from its Assassin’s Creed roots entirely, being formally announced to the public in 2017.
In the years since, another popular MMO Pirate game, Sea of Thieves, was released in 2018. Initially met with mixed reception, Sea of Thieves has since developed a strong and loyal fanbase in its own right. A game such as Black Flag is different enough in its single-player nature to sail past Sea of Thieves in the night, but Skull and Bones will face steeper competition with its fellow pirate MMO. As such, even if it releases years before a remake of AC4, it is possible that said remake will reignite interest in Skull and Bones should it suffer initially at launch.
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Because this remake has not been formally announced and the leakers remain unnamed and unidentified, it is best to take all of this information with a grain of salt. Regardless, rumors of a remake for Black Flag are sure to stir up interest in the Assassin’s Creed fandom.
Are you looking forward to seeing this game reimagined, or would you prefer something brand new? How about Skull and Bones? Do you think it still has a real shot at success, or do you think that ship has sailed? Let us know in the comments and on our social media feeds!
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