According to a new report from a French publication, the long-rumored remake of Assassin`s Creed IV: Black Flag is expected to remove the first-person, modern-day segments that take place outside the Animus.
As reported by Jeuxvideo and noted by IGN, these contemporary sections from Black Flag – where players leave the Animus to explore the Abstergo Entertainment offices and uncover protagonist Edward Kenway`s narrative ties – will reportedly be absent from the remake, which is anticipated around 2026.
Historically, these sections were crucial to Black Flag`s plot. Following the events of Assassin`s Creed III, Abstergo developed new methods to access a host`s genetic memories. They aimed to use the player`s unnamed modern-day character to gather intelligence on Kenway, the late Desmond Miles, and the formidable power they sought. Players would thwart Abstergo`s quest for ultimate control by exiting and hacking multiple Animus units, all while embodying the pirate-turned-assassin Kenway in thrilling combat and swashbuckling adventures.
To compensate for the removal of this content, however, Jeuxvideo suggests that developer Ubisoft plans to introduce new elements to the remake, including an expanded storyline for Mary Read, the English pirate and fellow assassin. This reportedly consists of content originally cut from the base game, though it`s uncertain if this additional story material will significantly extend the game`s approximate 24-hour playtime.
Beyond the rumored modern-day cuts, the unannounced remake is also said to feature other enhancements, such as modernized combat and gear systems. These changes aim to align the 2013 open-world pirate adventure more closely with recent Assassin`s Creed titles like Valhalla and Shadows.
In separate, confirmed news, Ubisoft has released the “Claws of Awaji” expansion for Assassin`s Creed Shadows. This DLC, free for those who preordered and developed by Ubisoft Bordeaux (known for Mirage), brings new gear, weapons, and an estimated 10 hours of additional narrative content. Coinciding with the expansion`s launch, Ubisoft also rolled out a new update featuring new upgrade tiers and an increased level cap.
Assassin`s Creed Shadows is currently available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.