<s>
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2013	O
action-adventure	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Ubisoft	O
Montreal	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Ubisoft	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
sixth	O
major	O
installment	O
in	O
the	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
historical	O
timeframe	O
precedes	O
that	O
of	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
III	I-Application
(	O
2012	O
)	O
,	O
but	O
its	O
modern-day	O
sequences	O
succeed	O
IIIs	O
own	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Black	O
Flag	O
was	O
originally	O
released	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
,	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
in	O
October	O
2013	O
and	O
a	O
month	O
later	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
later	O
ported	O
to	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
as	O
part	O
of	O
The	O
Rebel	O
Collection	O
alongside	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Rogue	I-Application
in	O
December	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
Google	B-Application
Stadia	I-Application
in	O
September	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
story	O
is	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
West	O
Indies	O
during	O
the	O
Golden	O
Age	O
of	O
Piracy	O
from	O
1715	O
to	O
1722	O
,	O
and	O
follows	O
notorious	O
Welsh	O
pirate	B-Application
Edward	O
Kenway	O
,	O
grandfather	O
of	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
III	I-Application
protagonist	O
Ratonhnhaké:ton	O
/	O
Connor	O
and	O
father	O
of	O
antagonist	O
Haytham	O
Kenway	O
,	O
as	O
he	O
searches	O
for	O
fortune	O
and	O
a	O
mythical	O
location	O
called	O
the	O
Observatory	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
sought	O
by	O
both	O
the	O
Assassins	O
and	O
the	O
Templars	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
major	O
plot	O
element	O
concerns	O
the	O
attempted	O
establishment	O
of	O
an	O
independent	O
Pirate	B-Application
republic	O
in	O
the	O
Caribbean	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
first	O
time	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
naval	O
exploration	O
is	O
a	O
major	O
part	O
of	O
an	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
game	O
,	O
where	O
Edward	O
captains	O
the	O
Jackdaw	O
,	O
a	O
brig	O
he	O
captures	O
from	O
a	O
Spanish	O
fleet	O
in	O
an	O
early	O
game	O
mission	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
number	O
of	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
(	O
DLC	B-Protocol
)	O
packs	O
were	O
released	O
to	O
support	O
Black	O
Flag	O
,	O
including	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Freedom	I-Application
Cry	I-Application
,	O
a	O
story	O
expansion	O
that	O
was	O
later	O
made	O
available	O
as	O
a	O
standalone	O
game	O
in	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Set	O
over	O
a	O
decade	O
after	O
Black	O
Flag	O
's	O
main	O
campaign	O
,	O
Freedom	B-Application
Cry	I-Application
follows	O
Adéwalé	O
,	O
Edward	O
's	O
former	O
quartermaster	O
who	O
became	O
an	O
Assassin	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
received	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
and	O
was	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best-selling	O
games	O
of	O
2013	O
,	O
with	O
over	O
15million	O
copies	O
sold	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Critics	O
praised	O
the	O
open	O
world	O
gameplay	O
,	O
improved	O
naval	O
combat	O
,	O
side-quests	O
,	O
graphics	O
,	O
narrative	O
,	O
characters	O
,	O
and	O
pirate	B-Application
theme	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
followed	O
by	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Rogue	I-Application
and	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Unity	I-Application
in	O
November	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
is	O
an	O
action-adventure	O
,	O
stealth	O
game	O
set	O
in	O
an	O
open	O
world	O
environment	O
and	O
played	O
from	O
a	O
third-person	O
perspective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
features	O
three	O
main	O
cities	O
:	O
Havana	O
,	O
Kingston	O
,	O
and	O
Nassau	O
,	O
which	O
reside	O
under	O
Spanish	O
,	O
British	O
,	O
and	O
pirate	B-Application
influence	O
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
designed	O
to	O
be	O
more	O
open	O
than	O
previous	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
titles	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
map	O
of	O
a	O
large	O
section	O
of	O
the	O
Caribbean	O
from	O
where	O
the	O
smaller	O
,	O
individual	O
locations	O
may	O
be	O
accessed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
features	O
fewer	O
restrictions	O
for	O
the	O
player	O
compared	O
to	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
which	O
had	O
very	O
scripted	O
missions	O
and	O
did	O
not	O
give	O
players	O
the	O
freedom	O
to	O
explore	O
until	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
well	O
into	O
its	O
first	O
act	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
the	O
hunting	O
system	O
has	O
been	O
retained	O
from	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
hunt	O
on	O
land	O
,	O
and	O
fish	O
in	O
the	O
water	O
,	O
with	O
resources	O
gathered	O
used	O
to	O
upgrade	O
equipment	O
via	O
a	O
crafting	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
updated	O
form	O
of	O
the	O
recruit	O
system	O
introduced	O
in	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
:	I-Application
Brotherhood	I-Application
is	O
present	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
allowing	O
Edward	O
to	O
recruit	O
crew	O
members	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
cannot	O
assist	O
in	O
combat	O
or	O
perform	O
long-range	O
assassinations	O
,	O
as	O
in	O
previous	O
games	O
;	O
Ubisoft	O
removed	O
this	O
aspect	O
of	O
the	B-Application
Brotherhood	I-Application
system	O
,	O
believing	O
it	O
allowed	O
players	O
to	O
bypass	O
tense	O
and	O
challenging	O
scenarios	O
too	O
easily	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Hacking	O
"	O
minigames	O
,	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
cluster	O
and	O
glyph	B-Application
puzzles	O
from	O
the	O
previous	O
games	O
,	O
are	O
also	O
present	O
,	O
and	O
completing	O
them	O
uncovers	O
various	O
secrets	O
about	O
Abstergo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
character	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
Edward	O
Kenway	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Matt	O
Ryan	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
Welsh	O
privateer-turned-pirate	O
and	O
eventual	O
member	O
of	O
the	B-Application
Brotherhood	I-Application
of	O
Assassins	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Edward	O
is	O
the	O
father	O
of	O
the	O
future	O
Colonial	O
Templars	O
Grand	O
Master	O
Haytham	O
Kenway	O
,	O
and	O
grandfather	O
of	O
the	O
Assassin	O
Ratonhnhaké:ton	O
,	O
the	O
two	O
playable	O
characters	O
of	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
Edward	O
meets	O
and	O
interacts	O
with	O
several	O
real-life	O
historical	O
figures	O
,	O
including	O
notorious	O
pirates	B-Application
Edward	O
"	O
Blackbeard	O
"	O
Thatch	O
(	O
Mark	O
Bonnar	O
)	O
,	O
Benjamin	O
Hornigold	O
(	O
Ed	O
Stoppard	O
)	O
,	O
Mary	O
Read	O
(	O
Olivia	O
Morgan	O
)	O
,	O
Stede	O
Bonnet	O
(	O
James	O
Bachman	O
)	O
,	O
Anne	O
Bonny	O
(	O
Sarah	O
Greene	O
)	O
,	O
Calico	O
Jack	O
(	O
O-T	O
Fagbenle	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Charles	O
Vane	O
(	O
Ralph	O
Ineson	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
is	O
the	O
case	O
in	O
previous	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
games	O
,	O
the	O
story	O
is	O
divided	O
into	O
two	O
intertwined	O
halves	O
,	O
with	O
one	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
present	O
day	O
and	O
the	O
other	O
in	O
a	O
historical	O
setting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
the	O
present-day	O
story	O
had	O
previously	O
established	O
that	O
an	O
Animus	O
was	O
required	O
to	O
view	O
one	O
's	O
ancestors	O
memories	O
,	O
the	O
ending	O
of	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
III	I-Application
reveals	O
that	O
Abstergo	O
can	O
now	O
view	O
a	O
host	O
's	O
genetic	O
memories	O
simply	O
by	O
sequencing	O
the	O
host	O
's	O
DNA	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
notorious	O
pirate	B-Application
and	O
privateer	B-Application
operating	O
during	O
the	O
Golden	O
Age	O
of	O
Piracy	O
,	O
Kenway	O
's	O
story	O
is	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
Caribbean	O
,	O
and	O
mixes	O
open-ended	O
ship-based	O
exploration	O
with	O
combat	O
and	O
land-based	O
adventures	O
in	O
Cuba	O
and	O
Jamaica	O
,	O
and	O
on	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
Caribbean	O
islands	O
,	O
parts	O
of	O
southern	O
Florida	O
and	O
eastern	O
Mexico	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2013	O
,	O
months	O
after	O
Desmond	O
Miles	O
 '	O
sacrifice	O
in	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
samples	O
taken	O
from	O
Desmond	O
's	O
body	O
allow	O
Abstergo	O
Industries	O
to	O
continue	O
exploring	O
his	O
genetic	O
memories	O
with	O
the	O
Animus	O
 '	O
newfound	O
cloud	O
computing	O
abilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
unnamed	O
player	O
character	O
is	O
hired	O
by	O
Abstergo	O
Entertainment	O
,	O
a	O
subsidiary	O
of	O
Abstergo	O
,	O
to	O
examine	O
the	O
memories	O
of	O
Desmond	O
's	O
ancestor	O
Edward	O
Kenway	O
,	O
a	O
famous	O
eighteenth-century	O
pirate	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meanwhile	O
,	O
a	O
band	O
of	O
notorious	O
pirates	B-Application
—	O
including	O
Blackbeard	O
,	O
Benjamin	O
Hornigold	O
,	O
Mary	O
Read	O
(	O
under	O
the	O
alias	O
"	O
James	O
Kidd	O
"	O
)	O
and	O
Charles	O
Vane	O
—	O
dream	O
of	O
a	O
pirate	B-Application
utopia	O
where	O
man	O
is	O
free	O
to	O
live	O
beyond	O
the	O
reach	O
of	O
rulers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
Edward	O
's	O
help	O
,	O
they	O
seize	O
control	O
of	O
Nassau	O
and	O
establish	O
a	O
pirate	B-Application
republic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mary	O
soon	O
dies	O
in	O
the	O
aftermath	O
of	O
childbirth	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
disheartened	O
Edward	O
decides	O
to	O
join	O
the	B-Application
Brotherhood	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
early	O
February	O
2013	O
,	O
during	O
its	O
quarterly	O
financial	O
call	O
to	O
investors	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
CEO	O
Yves	O
Guillemot	O
confirmed	O
that	O
the	O
next	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
game	O
,	O
due	O
for	O
release	O
some	O
time	O
before	O
April	O
2014	O
,	O
would	O
feature	O
a	O
new	O
hero	O
,	O
time	O
period	O
,	O
and	O
development	O
team	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
February	O
28	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
posted	O
their	O
first	O
promotional	O
picture	O
and	O
cover	O
for	O
their	O
next	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
game	O
,	O
following	O
leaked	O
marketing	O
material	O
days	O
before	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
announced	O
the	O
title	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
as	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
and	O
featured	O
an	O
unnamed	O
character	O
holding	O
a	O
flintlock	O
and	O
a	O
sword	O
with	O
a	O
black	O
flag	O
in	O
the	O
background	O
containing	O
the	O
Assassin	O
's	O
symbol	O
with	O
a	O
skull	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
reported	O
glitch	O
on	O
the	O
official	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
website	O
suggested	O
the	O
game	O
will	O
release	O
on	O
next-gen	O
consoles	O
and	O
October	O
29	O
as	O
the	O
release	O
date	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
confirmed	O
by	O
the	O
first	O
trailer	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
released	O
on	O
March	O
4	O
,	O
2013	O
(	O
originally	O
leaked	O
on	O
March	O
2	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
but	O
was	O
quickly	O
pulled	O
by	O
Ubisoft	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
with	O
a	O
cinematic	O
trailer	O
on	O
March	O
4	O
,	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
began	O
in	O
mid-2011	O
at	O
Ubisoft	O
Montreal	O
by	O
a	O
separate	O
team	O
from	O
the	O
one	O
on	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
with	O
additional	O
work	O
done	O
by	O
Ubisoft	O
studios	O
in	O
Annecy	O
,	O
Bucharest	O
,	O
Kyiv	O
,	O
Milan	O
,	O
Montpellier	O
,	O
Singapore	O
and	O
Sofia	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lead	O
content	O
manager	O
Carsten	O
Myhill	O
stressed	O
away	O
from	O
the	O
sentiment	O
that	O
the	O
sequel	O
should	O
have	O
been	O
a	O
spin-off	O
in	O
the	O
same	O
vein	O
as	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
:	I-Application
Brotherhood	I-Application
or	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
:	I-Application
Revelations	I-Application
,	O
given	O
the	O
ostensible	O
similarities	O
with	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
will	O
feel	O
very	O
different	O
from	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
I	O
think	O
it	O
completely	O
warrants	O
the	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
moniker	O
,	O
not	O
only	O
with	O
the	O
new	O
name	O
and	O
setting	O
but	O
the	O
attitude	O
and	O
the	O
tone	O
of	O
the	O
experience.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
is	O
the	O
first	O
main	O
series	O
numbered	O
title	O
to	O
carry	O
a	O
subtitle	O
,	O
a	O
decision	O
which	O
Myhill	O
says	O
was	O
made	O
to	O
clearly	O
distinguish	O
the	O
pirate	B-Application
theme	O
from	O
the	O
rest	O
of	O
the	O
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
November	O
2013	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
financed	O
the	O
exhumation	O
of	O
the	O
remains	O
of	O
the	O
Spanish	O
corsair	O
Amaro	O
Pargo	O
with	O
the	O
aim	O
of	O
reconstructing	O
his	O
face	O
for	O
a	O
possible	O
appearance	O
in	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
(	O
Original	O
Game	O
Soundtrack	O
)	O
was	O
composed	O
by	O
American	O
composer	O
Brian	O
Tyler	O
,	O
who	O
also	O
composed	O
the	O
soundtrack	O
of	O
the	O
previous	O
Ubisoft	O
title	O
Far	B-Application
Cry	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
soundtrack	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
Amazon	B-Application
MP3	I-Application
and	O
iTunes	B-Operating_System
on	O
October	O
14	O
,	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
(	O
Game	O
Soundtrack	O
—	O
Sea	O
Shanty	O
Edition	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
second	O
soundtrack	O
containing	O
a	O
set	O
of	O
16	O
sea	O
shanties	O
composed	O
by	O
various	O
artists	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
Amazon	B-Application
MP3	I-Application
and	O
iTunes	B-Operating_System
on	O
October	O
29	O
,	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
(	O
Game	O
Soundtrack	O
—	O
The	O
Complete	O
Edition	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
complete	O
soundtrack	O
including	O
the	O
two	O
previous	O
soundtracks	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
multiplayer	O
soundtrack	O
composed	O
by	O
Joe	O
Henson	O
and	O
Alexis	O
Smith	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
Amazon	B-Application
MP3	I-Application
and	O
iTunes	B-Operating_System
on	O
December	O
2	O
,	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
(	O
Game	O
Soundtrack	O
—	O
Sea	O
Shanty	O
Edition	O
,	O
Vol	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
2	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
third	O
soundtrack	O
containing	O
a	O
set	O
of	O
25	O
sea	O
shanties	O
composed	O
by	O
various	O
artists	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
Amazon	B-Application
MP3	I-Application
and	O
iTunes	B-Operating_System
on	O
June	O
16	O
,	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
score	O
to	O
the	O
Freedom	B-Application
Cry	I-Application
DLC	B-Protocol
was	O
composed	O
by	O
French	O
composer	O
Olivier	O
Deriviere	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
was	O
released	O
worldwide	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
on	O
October	O
29	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
was	O
released	O
on	O
October	O
29	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
November	O
21	O
,	O
2013	O
in	O
Australia	O
,	O
November	O
22	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
in	O
Europe	O
and	O
November	O
28	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
version	O
in	O
Europe	O
was	O
delayed	O
from	O
its	O
original	O
November	O
1	O
,	O
2013	O
release	O
date	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
announced	O
on	O
March	O
1	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
will	O
also	O
come	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
on	O
May	O
21	O
that	O
it	O
will	O
release	O
on	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
versions	O
were	O
launch	O
titles	O
,	O
with	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
version	O
releasing	O
on	O
November	O
15	O
and	O
29	O
,	O
2013	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
Europe	O
,	O
respectively	O
,	O
and	O
November	O
22	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
worldwide	O
for	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ubisoft	O
partnered	O
with	O
Sony	O
to	O
bring	O
exclusive	O
content	O
to	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
versions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
including	O
three	O
missions	O
featuring	O
the	O
protagonist	O
of	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Liberation	I-Application
,	O
Aveline	O
de	O
Grandpré	O
(	O
Amber	O
Goldfarb	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
Black	O
Flag	O
,	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
version	O
was	O
the	O
master	O
,	O
before	O
the	O
team	O
adapted	O
it	O
to	O
the	O
other	O
consoles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
October	O
31	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
announced	O
that	O
the	O
Uplay	O
Passport	O
requirement	O
would	O
be	O
removed	O
from	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
and	O
all	O
future	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
October	O
8	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
announced	O
that	O
a	O
Season	O
Pass	O
would	O
be	O
available	O
for	O
purchase	O
at	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
on	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
and	O
PC	O
,	O
and	O
would	O
include	O
a	O
single-player	O
story	O
expansion	O
,	O
titled	O
Freedom	B-Application
Cry	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
Kraken	O
Ship	O
pack	O
featuring	O
elements	O
to	O
personalize	O
the	O
Jackdaw	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
additional	O
single-player	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
elements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Freedom	B-Application
Cry	I-Application
sees	O
the	O
player	O
take	O
on	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
Adéwalé	O
,	O
a	O
freed	O
slave	O
from	O
Trinidad	O
who	O
became	O
Edward	O
Kenway	O
's	O
quartermaster	O
and	O
later	O
a	O
member	O
of	O
the	O
Assassin	O
Brotherhood	O
during	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Black	O
Flag	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
story	O
is	O
written	O
by	O
Jill	O
Murray	O
,	O
who	O
also	O
wrote	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Liberation	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2014	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
announced	O
that	O
Freedom	B-Application
Cry	I-Application
would	O
be	O
released	O
as	O
a	O
standalone	O
title	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
on	O
February	O
18	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
for	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
February	O
19	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
for	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
original	O
release	O
,	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
versions	O
contained	O
an	O
exclusive	O
DLC	B-Protocol
,	O
Aveline	O
,	O
also	O
written	O
by	O
Jill	O
Murray	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
follows	O
the	O
titular	O
protagonist	O
of	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Liberation	I-Application
in	O
a	O
new	O
adventure	O
set	O
years	O
after	O
that	O
game	O
's	O
events	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
later	O
made	O
available	O
on	O
PC	O
,	O
in	O
the	O
Uplay	O
Digital	O
Deluxe	O
Edition	O
and	O
Jackdaw	O
Edition	O
,	O
and	O
on	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Rebel	O
Collection	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
ported	O
to	O
Google	B-Application
Stadia	I-Application
on	O
September	O
14	O
,	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
later	O
made	O
available	O
for	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
PC	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
edition	O
includes	O
all	O
previously	O
released	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
received	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
"	O
reviews	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
review	B-Application
aggregator	I-Application
Metacritic	O
,	O
with	O
critics	O
praising	O
the	O
open	O
world	O
gameplay	O
,	O
side-quests	O
,	O
graphics	O
and	O
naval	O
combat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
November	O
2013	O
,	O
Hardcore	O
Gamer	O
ranked	O
Black	O
Flag	O
as	O
the	O
70th	O
greatest	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
seventh	B-Application
generation	I-Application
era	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Black	O
Flag	O
was	O
generally	O
praised	O
as	O
superior	O
to	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
with	O
Game	O
Informers	O
Joe	O
Juba	O
noting	O
that	O
Ubisoft	O
responded	O
to	O
criticisms	O
the	O
previous	O
game	O
faced	O
and	O
rectified	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
CVG	O
's	O
Matt	O
Gilman	O
called	O
the	O
game	O
"	O
a	O
return	O
to	O
form	O
for	O
the	O
franchise	O
,	O
"	O
while	O
Mikel	O
Reparaz	O
of	O
Official	O
Xbox	B-Device
Magazine	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
After	O
weathering	O
the	O
somewhat	O
diminishing	O
returns	O
of	O
Revelations	B-Application
and	O
ACIII	B-Application
,	O
Black	O
Flag	O
is	O
exactly	O
the	O
shot	O
in	O
the	O
arm	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
needed.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
days	O
after	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
IGN	O
ranked	O
Black	O
Flag	O
as	O
the	O
2nd	O
best	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
series	O
,	O
only	O
behind	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviewers	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
naval	O
combat	O
was	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IIIs	I-Application
best	O
feature	O
,	O
and	O
consequently	O
praised	O
Black	O
Flag	O
for	O
improving	O
on	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tito	O
explained	O
that	O
,	O
while	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IIIs	I-Application
naval	O
missions	O
were	O
linear	O
and	O
limited	O
,	O
Black	O
Flag	O
offered	O
the	O
player	O
much	O
greater	O
freedom	O
by	O
allowing	O
them	O
to	O
explore	O
,	O
fight	O
or	O
sail	O
whenever	O
they	O
wanted	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
McInnis	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
"	O
places	O
a	O
huge	O
emphasis	O
on	O
naval	O
combat	O
,	O
"	O
and	O
stated	O
that	O
it	O
"	O
builds	O
on	O
ACIIIs	B-Application
naval	O
side	O
missions	O
to	O
create	O
an	O
experience	O
every	O
bit	O
as	O
important	O
as	O
running	O
around	O
on	O
dry	O
land.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
naval	O
combat	O
received	O
praise	O
for	O
its	O
additions	O
of	O
boarding	O
ships	O
and	O
attacking	O
forts	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
seamless	O
transitions	O
between	O
ship	O
and	O
sword	O
gameplay	O
,	O
with	O
Tito	O
calling	O
it	O
"	O
a	O
great	O
dual	O
system	O
that	O
rewards	O
both	O
skill	O
in	O
naval	O
combat	O
,	O
and	O
 [ in ] 	O
pirate	B-Application
action.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Edge	O
staff	O
said	O
that	O
"	O
Stealth	O
games	O
are	O
only	O
as	O
good	O
as	O
the	O
flexibility	O
of	O
their	O
encounters	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
that	O
regard	O
Black	O
Flag	O
is	O
the	O
most	O
generous	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
game	O
to	O
date.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
also	O
complained	O
about	O
the	O
enemy	O
A.I.	B-Application
</s>
<s>
The	O
simplified	O
crafting	O
system	O
was	O
praised	O
for	O
improving	O
over	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IIIs	I-Application
,	O
with	O
reviewers	O
noting	O
it	O
took	O
inspiration	O
from	O
Far	B-Application
Cry	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reparaz	O
praised	O
it	O
as	O
"	O
engrossing	O
"	O
and	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
series	O
 '	O
best	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reparaz	O
and	O
McInnis	O
also	O
complimented	O
the	O
characters	O
,	O
and	O
praised	O
the	O
way	O
the	O
story	O
explores	O
the	O
human	O
side	O
of	O
pirates	B-Application
,	O
painting	O
them	O
in	O
a	O
sympathetic	O
and	O
relatable	O
light	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
pacing	O
and	O
opening	O
were	O
praised	O
,	O
as	O
it	O
introduced	O
the	O
pirate	B-Application
gameplay	O
without	O
the	O
need	O
of	O
an	O
overly	O
long	O
tutorial	O
,	O
with	O
Juba	O
noting	O
it	O
an	O
improvement	O
over	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
reviewers	O
labelled	O
Black	O
Flag	O
a	O
more	O
pirate	B-Application
game	O
than	O
it	O
is	O
an	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
one	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
its	O
heavy	O
focusing	O
on	O
pirating	O
in	O
gameplay	O
,	O
story	O
,	O
and	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviewers	O
felt	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
better	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
;	O
they	O
praised	O
Black	O
Flags	O
more	O
light-hearted	O
fare	O
and	O
tone	O
compared	O
to	O
previous	O
games	O
,	O
while	O
also	O
believing	O
the	O
game	O
wisely	O
avoided	O
the	O
usual	O
convoluted	O
Assassin	O
's	O
plot	O
in	O
favor	O
of	O
a	O
simplistic	O
pirate	B-Application
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Gilman	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
Black	O
Flag	O
is	O
a	O
better	O
pirate	B-Application
game	O
than	O
it	O
is	O
an	O
assassin	O
game	O
,	O
"	O
with	O
PC	O
Gamers	O
Tom	O
Senior	O
remarking	O
that	O
"	O
Black	O
Flag	O
does	O
n't	O
really	O
want	O
to	O
be	O
an	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
game	O
,	O
and	O
 [ ... ] 	O
that	O
is	O
a	O
welcome	O
move.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Reparaz	O
called	O
it	O
the	O
greatest	O
pirate	B-Application
game	O
he	O
had	O
ever	O
played	O
,	O
while	O
Electronic	O
Gaming	O
Monthlys	O
Ray	O
Carsillo	O
declared	O
Black	O
Flag	O
to	O
be	O
"	O
probably	O
the	O
best	O
pirate	B-Application
simulation	O
in	O
gaming	O
history.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Tito	O
stated	O
that	O
Black	O
Flags	O
gameplay	O
reminded	O
him	O
more	O
of	O
a	O
3D	O
version	O
of	O
Sid	B-Application
Meier	I-Application
's	I-Application
Pirates	I-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
than	O
any	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Edward	O
Kenway	O
's	O
character	O
as	O
a	O
self-motivated	O
pirate	B-Application
rather	O
than	O
an	O
Assassin	O
was	O
also	O
praised	O
by	O
most	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sliva	O
believed	O
that	O
Edward	O
's	O
character	O
was	O
a	O
"	O
refreshing	O
change	O
of	O
pace	O
from	O
a	O
series	O
that	O
had	O
started	O
to	O
take	O
itself	O
a	O
bit	O
too	O
seriously	O
,	O
"	O
while	O
he	O
and	O
Gilman	O
stated	O
that	O
Edward	O
was	O
a	O
"	O
livelier	O
"	O
and	O
more	O
"	O
palatable	O
"	O
protagonist	O
than	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IIIs	I-Application
Connor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
2020	O
,	O
Game	O
Informer	O
ranked	O
the	O
game	O
as	O
the	O
fourth	O
best	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
series	O
to	O
date	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
first	O
week	O
of	O
sales	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
,	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
became	O
the	O
best-selling	O
game	O
on	O
all	O
available	O
formats	O
,	O
ahead	O
of	O
Battlefield	O
4	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
opening	O
week	O
sales	O
were	O
60%	O
down	O
compared	O
to	O
2012	O
's	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ubisoft	O
blamed	O
the	O
fall	O
in	O
demand	O
on	O
uncertainty	O
caused	O
by	O
the	O
upcoming	O
transition	O
to	O
eighth	B-Application
generation	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
NPD	O
Group	O
figures	O
,	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
was	O
the	O
third	O
best-selling	O
game	O
of	O
November	O
2013	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
only	O
behind	O
Call	B-Application
of	I-Application
Duty	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ghosts	I-Application
and	O
Battlefield	O
4	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Awards	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
has	O
received	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
nominations	O
from	O
media	O
outlets	O
Cheat	O
Code	O
Central	O
,	O
GameSpot	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Inside	O
Gaming	O
Awards	O
,	O
It	O
won	O
the	O
Spike	O
VGX	O
2013	O
award	O
for	O
Best	O
Action	O
Adventure	O
Game	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
GameSpot	O
awards	O
for	O
PS4	B-Operating_System
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Writers	O
Jill	O
Murray	O
,	O
Melissa	O
MacCoubrey	O
,	O
Hugo	O
Giard	O
and	O
Wesley	O
Pincombe	O
received	O
a	O
Writers	O
Guild	O
of	O
America	O
Awards	O
nomination	O
in	O
the	O
67th	O
edition	O
for	O
the	O
screenplay	O
and	O
story	O
of	O
Freedom	B-Application
Cry	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
List	O
of	O
notable	O
awards	O
and	O
nominations	O
for	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
Year	O
Award	O
Category	O
Result	O
Ref	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
</s>
<s>
The	O
People	O
for	O
the	O
Ethical	O
Treatment	O
of	O
Animals	O
(	O
PETA	O
)	O
,	O
an	O
animal	O
rights	O
organization	O
criticized	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
for	O
the	O
usage	O
of	O
harpoons	O
and	O
"	O
glorification	O
"	O
of	O
whaling	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ubisoft	O
responded	O
to	O
the	O
claims	O
by	O
saying	O
that	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
is	I-Application
based	O
on	O
history	O
and	O
is	O
a	O
"	O
work	O
of	O
fiction	O
which	O
depicts	O
real	O
events	O
during	O
the	O
Golden	O
Era	O
of	O
Pirates	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
PETA	O
has	O
had	O
a	O
history	O
of	O
criticising	O
video	O
games	O
,	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
notable	B-Operating_System
cases	I-Operating_System
being	O
Mario	B-Application
and	O
Pokémon	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Series	O
continuationAssassin	O
's	O
Creed	O
Unity	O
,	O
set	O
in	O
Paris	O
during	O
the	O
French	O
Revolution	O
and	O
featuring	O
a	O
new	O
storyline	O
and	O
characters	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
worldwide	O
on	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
on	O
November	O
11	O
,	O
2014.Assassin	O
'	O
s	O
Creed	O
Rogue	O
is	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
Black	O
Flag	O
,	O
which	O
bridges	O
the	O
gap	O
between	O
it	O
and	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
III	I-Application
;	O
it	O
also	O
loosely	O
ties	O
into	O
Unity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
worldwide	O
on	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
on	O
November	O
11	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
and	O
on	O
Windows	O
on	O
March	O
10	O
,	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
remastered	O
version	O
was	O
later	O
released	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
on	O
March	O
20	O
,	O
2018	O
,	O
and	O
for	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
on	O
December	O
6	O
,	O
2019	O
,	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
The	O
Rebel	O
Collection	O
alongside	O
Black	O
Flag	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
planned	O
multiplayer	O
expansion	O
had	O
been	O
in	O
development	O
for	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
to	O
expand	O
out	O
the	O
naval	O
battles	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
by	O
Ubisoft	O
Singapore	O
.	O
</s>
