Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is an action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It was released in 2013 for various platforms, including PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and Microsoft Windows. The game is the sixth major installment in the Assassin's Creed series and serves as a prequel to the previous titles, featuring a new protagonist and a different historical setting.
Setting: The game is set in the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy in the early 18th century. Players take on the role of Edward Kenway, a privateer-turned-pirate and ancestor of the series' recurring protagonist, Desmond Miles.
Open-World Exploration: Black Flag introduced a vast open-world environment that includes various islands, cities, and naval locations. Players can explore the Caribbean Sea and visit locations such as Havana, Nassau, and Kingston.
Naval Exploration and Combat: A significant addition to the series was the emphasis on naval exploration and combat. Players command Edward's ship, the Jackdaw, engaging in naval battles, searching for hidden treasures, and upgrading the ship's capabilities.
Assassin's Creed Lore: While serving as a standalone story, Black Flag is also connected to the overarching narrative of the Assassin's Creed series, with ties to the ongoing conflict between the Assassins and the Templars.
Stealth and Combat: The game retains the series' trademark combination of stealth and action. Players can use various weapons and tactics to approach missions, whether through sneaking and assassination or more direct combat.
Abstergo Entertainment: The game introduces a modern-day setting where players take on the role of an unnamed employee of Abstergo Entertainment, a company that uses the memories of individuals to create entertainment. The player's job is to explore the memories of Edward Kenway.
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag received positive reviews for its engaging open-world, naval mechanics, and a compelling protagonist. It is often regarded as one of the standout titles in the Assassin's Creed series.
