While Ubisoft’s latest earnings materials did not announce the game in question, external reporting on the topic has been aggregating with enough confidence to suggest that the title is a remake of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag.
The pirate adventure is said to be “having its visual effects and systems repurposed with modern hardware,” Insider Gaming, which has been monitoring the project for months, reports; that suggests potentially bringing one of the series’ most beloved installments to a new audience sooner rather than later.
Why Black Flag and Why Now for a Full Remake
“Black Flag” is not only a fan favorite — it is a commercial and critical high point for the franchise. Lifetime sales hover north of 15 million units, according to company figures outlined during investor briefings and reported thereafter, while its console editions land in the mid-to-high 80s on Metacritic. Even more significantly, its naval exploration loop — of plotting trade routes, boarding ships, and upgrading the Jackdaw — would become a blueprint for open-world design that other non–Assassin’s Creed titles would study.
A return also makes business sense. Remakes and remasters continue to perform well on the charts in recent years. Circana’s rankings of software often include spruced-up classics, such as Resident Evil 4 and Dead Space, underscoring the idea that nostalgia mixed with quality modernization can create new demand. In terms of returning old assets, Ubisoft already has some practice from The Ezio Collection and Assassin’s Creed III Remastered, signifying a willingness to reintroduce legacy content if the timing is right.
There is also a strategic synergy at work. More broadly, Ubisoft’s portfolio is weighted toward systemic open worlds, and naval tech is a competitive differentiator. Bringing back Black Flag with modern tools could not only scratch an itch for longtime fans, but also give us a slick, evergreen entry to sit alongside the RPG-inflected additions.
What the Remake Could Change for Modern Players
According to reporting by Insider Gaming, the remake not only brings a shiny new coat of paint. Look for the kind of modern quality-of-life updates — faster travel, better combat timing, and a less cluttered interface — as well as broader RPG-style progression that can be found in recent entries. That could involve more in-depth ship customization, perhaps a finer-grained skill path for Edward Kenway, and easier-to-understand build identities without compromising the swashbuckling flavor of the first game.
An interesting rumour states that the modern-day framing device is being reduced or outright excised from the game. Ubisoft has gradually diminished those sections of the game over the last few releases, and instead tested out what would eventually expand into its Assassin’s Creed Infinity hub approach. Black Flag originally hinged around a first-person Abstergo plotline, so streamlining could strip it back toward the Caribbean sandbox and flatten friction for new players.
At the technical level, an updated Anvil pipeline would allow for denser crowds, more complex ocean simulation, and integration with seamless boarding sequences closer to being on par with current expectations. If Ubisoft brings the animation and stealth precision it’s shown since then to knife-to-throat assassinations and ship-to-ship transitions, everything might finally live up to the fantasy players have in their heads.
Signals to Look For Before an Official Announcement
Ubisoft has not officially announced the remake, but its topline guidance for an unannounced 2023 launch is a huge bellwether. The next solid indicators would be those ratings board filings, database entries from platform storefronts, or a centerpiece segment on the publisher’s showcase. It would be a break from the tradition of Ubisoft showing big Assassin’s Creed beats at its own shows, replete with cinematic reveals that are followed by in-engine breakdowns shortly after.
Retail and collector’s editions are another canary in the coal mine. And those lower-scope official announcements can be outweighed by listing leaks with posh statues or map replicas that come from premium editions somehow up the track. If Black Flag does return as a deluxe edition, look for art books that delve into ship design and Caribbean landmarks, an indication the studio is treating this as a full-featured relaunch as opposed to the simplest convenient port.
What a Contemporary Black Flag Means for the Series
A Black Flag remake, if done right, would provide Ubisoft with a formidable on-ramp for new fans, particularly players who were introduced to the series by its more recent RPG-flavoured entries. It shovels a reserve of limestone-block context behind the franchise’s bedrock, which is stealth and parkour and social camouflage — and preserves that peculiar maritime identity that no competitor quite emulates. If performed thoughtfully, it could find a place alongside the latest offerings as an addition rather than a museum piece.
For now, cautious optimism is the call. The demand is there, the timing works, and the sourcing has remained consistent. If fate conspires, we might also be charting a course back to Nassau and beyond — this time with the wind of contemporary design at our backs.
