A new report published by French outlet Jeuxvideo, suggests Ubisoft’s upcoming Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag remake will completely remove the game’s modern-day storyline. According to multiple gaming outlets, the remake will focus exclusively on Edward Kenway’s pirate adventures and ditch everything that happens “outside the Animus.”
The original Black Flag featured two distinct gameplay styles. Players spent most of their time sailing the Caribbean as Edward Kenway in the early 1700s. But between major story beats, the game pulled players into first-person segments set in modern-day Abstergo Entertainment offices.
These office sections included walking around cubicles, hacking computers through mini-games, and uncovering corporate secrets. The modern storyline featured John Standish, an IT manager who turned out to be a Sage—a reincarnation of an ancient being connected to the game’s larger mythology.
Removing these segments would fundamentally change Black Flag‘s structure. The original game used the modern-day framework to connect Edward’s hunt for the pirate Sage Bartholomew Roberts to present-day events. Without John Standish’s subplot, the game loses key story beats that tied into the series’ ongoing conflict between Assassins and Templars.
The modern-day segments also provided crucial lore through hackable computers. Players could access emails, audio logs, and documents that expanded the Assassin’s Creed universe. These included references to previous games and teases for future storylines, particularly involving the ancient being Juno.
Office politics divide the fanbase
Fan reactions to the reported changes are mixed. Some players celebrate the potential removal, calling the office sections slow and tedious. Others argue that cutting modern-day content betrays what makes Assassin’s Creed unique—its dual-timeline storytelling that connects past and present.
Ubisoft has not confirmed these reports or provided any official details about the remake’s content. The Black Flag remake has been in development since at least 2023, but the company has remained silent about specific changes or a release date. Until Ubisoft makes an official statement, these remain unverified reports about the game’s direction.
