After a year of leaks and maritime mishaps that Ubisoft probably didn't find nearly as funny as I did, the official curtain has finally been lifted on Black Flag Resynced. The reveal of "gaming's worst-kept secret" was exactly what we expected: a remake of the legendary Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.
However, hidden within Ubisoft's massive announcement roundup is a fascinating bit of trivia. Development for the project is being led by Ubisoft Singapore. While they are just one of many studios in the ecosystem, their involvement marks a significant moment in the studio's history.
The Full Circle of Black Flag Resamed
Ubisoft Singapore is also the developer behind Skull and Bones, Ubisoft's other massive pirate fantasy adventure. This game became well-documented for its development difficulties, which serves as a stark contrast to the hype surrounding Black Flag Resynced.
While the remake was destined to leak, Skull and Bones was unfortunately doomed to endless delays. At least one major delay occurred less than two months before its planned 2022 release. The timeline for that project was particularly turbulent:
- Announced: 2017
- Original Release Target: Fall 2018
- Development Duration: Over 10 years
It is worth noting that work on Skull and Bones actually began in 2013, immediately following the release of the original Black Flag. In fact, it was originally envisioned as a multiplayer expansion for that very title. After a decade of tossing on turbulent seas, Singapore has finally pushed Skull and Bones out the door, only to be told they are heading back to the waters of Black Flag Resynced.
A Massive Global Collaboration
While the Singapore team is taking the lead, they aren't sailing this ship alone. Although not featured prominently on the main announcement page, the fine print of the official press release reveals a massive list of co-development studios. The sheer scale of the roster makes it feel like someone put Gary Oldman in charge of production.
The full list of contributing studios includes:
- Ubisoft Barcelona, Belgrade, Blue Byte, Bordeaux, and Bucharest
- Ubisoft Chengdu, Da Nang, India, Kyiv, and Montpellier
- Ubisoft Montreal, Philippines, Quebec, Shanghai, and Sofia
I'm not suggesting that Ubisoft will hold the brakes on Black Flag Resynced until 2032; I am fairly confident it will hit its July 9 release target. Still, after 13 solid years of working on Edward Kenway and his various legally distinct adventures, the Singapore squad is likely looking forward to something fresh.
Hey, maybe Ubisoft can put them to work on Beyond Good and Evil 2. Getting that out the door shouldn't take more than, oh, another 17 years.
