More screens and concept art here

- set in the Caribbean during the 17th century
- play as pirate Edward Kenway
- he is the father of Assassin Creed 3's Haytham Kenway
- he cares mostly about himself and his ship
- decorate the ship as you please
- you are free to hunt whales, visit hidden coves, search for sunken treasure and more
- will feature Templars
- Kenway is a member of the Assassins, but his allegiance lies with himself
- the enemy is the collective of rival pirates
- visit small island towns separated by hundreds of miles of ocean and jungle
- expect a gritty take on pirates, including the sex and violence the lifestyle is known for
- fight enemies while on your ship and use it to travel from island to island
- add in additional cannons and improved defenses
- you'll need certain ship upgrades to access various areas
- loading screens do not seem to be involved when sailing
- notable pirates include Blackbeard, Charles Vane, Calico Jack, Anne Bonny and Ben Hornigold
- events include Bartholomew Roberts' assault on a fleet of 42 Portuguese ships and the wreck of the Spanish Armada
- stealth is important for infiltration and the exploration of islands
- open-ended assassinations will return
- "systemic gameplay" in a "true open-world"
- freely collect treasure, start fights, sink boats, investigate temples, trek jungles, and uncover shipwrecks
- events will randomly occur within the game world
- example: on the way to a mission, encounter an enemy ship the size of a small island. Lure the ship into a tropical storm to weaken it. Board the ship and take over.
- Edward will have new abilities, including being able to swim deep underwater
- problems from ACIII (tall architecture/free climbing/running, load times and economy) will be addressed
- will feature tall buildings and stealth via rooftop
- emphasis on seamless movement from each gameplay element to the next, and from one environment to another
- Edward's ship and crew require money to improve
- this is the same for your arsenal
- enemy ships are fast and ram their steel bows into the flank of your ship
- Others are slow and packed with heavy weaponry
- use a "spyglass" to spot ships or islands
- icon-based overlay explains what weapons, treasure, animals or secrets
- the sun's place in the sky and stars can be used to guide the ship
- setting includes Cuba, the Bahamas, Nassau and the southern tip of Florida
- visit jungles, temples, fishing villages, plantations, Mayan ruins, the Coconut Islands, hidden coves, underwater shipwrecks, pirate-controlled ports, British colonial towns and of course beaches
- you will not control the series' overarching protagonist Desmond Miles
- control an employee of Abstergo Entertainment, a subsidiary of Abstergo Industries
- use the Animus from Assassin's Creed 2
- other non-Desmond characters from modern day will return

SAN FRANCISCO — March 4, 2013 — Today, Ubisoft announced Assassin’s Creed® IV Black Flag, the next installment in the company’s best-selling franchise. Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag introduces an all new hero and setting, and will feature the most diverse and seamless Assassin’s Creed world ever created.

In development for nearly two years, the game is being spearheaded by one of the veteran Assassin’s Creed teams in Ubisoft Montreal with support from Ubisoft studios in Annecy, Bucharest, Kiev, Quebec, Singapore and Sofia. Assassin’s Creed® IV Black Flag will be released on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®4 from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., Nintendo’s Wii U™ system, Windows PC and other next generation consoles. The game will be available on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Nintendo’s Wii U™ system on October 29, 2013.

“With the new hero and new setting we are creating the boldest and most unique Assassin’s Creed game yet, while still respecting the pillars of the franchise that have made it such a fan favorite,” said Yves Guillemot, chief executive officer at Ubisoft. “Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag is based on a true, harsh and exciting part of a legendary era and will thrill longtime fans and newcomers alike.”

Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag tells the story of Edward Kenway, a young British man with a thirst for danger and adventure, who falls from privateering for the Royal Navy into piracy as the war between the major Empires comes to an end. Edward is a fierce pirate and seasoned fighter who soon finds himself embroiled in the ancient war between Assassins and Templars. Set at the dawn of the 18th Century, the game features some of the most infamous pirates in history, such as Blackbeard and Charles Vane, and takes players on a journey throughout the West Indies during a turbulent and violent period of time later to become known as the Golden Age of Pirates.

Gameplay in Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag is based upon the franchise’s proven tenets. Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag features a vast open world with more than 50 navigable locations. Combat combines the weaponry of the Assassin’s Order with armaments of the era, and rewards both daring and stealth. And the series’ acclaimed multiplayer experience is more varied and ruthless than ever in Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag.

Customers who purchase Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag on PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4 can download 60 minutes of additional gameplay via the PlayStation Network after the game’s launch.

Customers who pre-order Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag at GameStop® will receive a Limited Edition collectible poster (while supplies last) featuring artwork created by legendary, award-winning artist Todd McFarlane.

Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag can be pre-ordered at Uplay shop by visiting: http://shop.ubi.com/AC4BF

For more information on Assassin’s Creed, please visit: assassinscreed.com and facebook.com/assassinscreed.

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