Okay, gamers, let's talk. The digital seas are buzzin' with some pretty wild news about the upcoming Black Flag remake, and honestly, I'm already bracing myself for impact. Ubisoft, bless their hearts, are apparently considering ditching the modern day sections. You know, those bits where you hop out of the Animus and wander around Abstergo Entertainment? Gone. Poof. Vanished like a sunken treasure.
Wait, what?! No Modern Day?
Yep, that's the rumor mill churning. According to Jeuxvideo, the whole modern day storyline is getting the axe. No Abstergo shenanigans, no corporate espionage, just pure pirate-y goodness from start to finish. At least, that's what they're saying.
Now, before you grab your pitchforks (or should I say, cutlasses?), Ubisoft is supposedly adding extra pirate-era content to compensate. We're talking expanded storylines for Mary Read, which is actually pretty cool. But still... the modern day thing is kinda core to the whole Assassin's Creed vibe, right?
Flashback: My First AC Experience
Remember when we first fired up Assassin's Creed? I do. I was blown away by the historical setting, sure, but what really grabbed me was the whole sci-fi layer cake of it all. The Animus, the Templars pulling strings in the present, it was all so freaking cool. That feeling is what hooked me. It's what turned me into an AC fan. And to see that potentially disappear from a remake? It feels like a betrayal of what made the series special.
So, where does this leave us?
The Fan Reaction: Not exactly thrilled
Unsurprisingly, the reaction online has been…mixed. Okay, maybe “mixed” is putting it mildly. Over on Reddit, the fans are letting Ubisoft have it with both barrels. "I hope it's not true that they removed the modern day sections," wrote one user. "Without the modern day storyline and ancient aliens sci-fi stuff, modern AC games are just Witcher 3 clones with stealth mechanics." Ouch!
And he's got a point, doesn't he? It's like ZeroZelath said. "They need to stop removing modern day content! It's honestly one of my favorite parts..."
Others are echoing the same sentiment. They feel like Ubisoft is slowly stripping away the DNA that makes Assassin's Creed, well, Assassin's Creed. Are they turning it into just another historical action game? Is that what we really want?
But here's the thing, I can see where Ubisoft might be coming from. The modern day stuff hasn't exactly been a highlight in recent games. Remember the kinda-meh modern day segments in Valhalla? Or the almost non-existent ones in Shadows? Maybe they're trying to streamline the experience, focusing on what people actually enjoyed in Black Flag: the swashbuckling pirate adventure.
Overhaul and Combat
Speaking of the game itself, rumors suggest a complete overhaul of the combat and gear systems, bringing them more in line with recent titles like Origins or Odyssey. So, expect a more RPG-lite experience with loot and skill trees. Whether that's a good thing or not… Well, we will have to see! What do you guys think, sounds good or a letdown?
And that's the billion dollar question, isn't it? Can Ubisoft truly capture the magic of Black Flag without the modern day element? Is it possible to improve on a classic by removing a core component of its identity?
Why the Modern Day Matters
For many of us, the modern day storyline isn't just some tacked-on gimmick. It's the glue that holds the entire franchise together. It provides context, raises philosophical questions about free will and destiny, and gives us a reason to care about these historical figures beyond just their swashbuckling adventures.
Plus, let's be real, the Abstergo stuff was always a fun meta-narrative. Who didn't enjoy sneaking around the office, hacking computers, and uncovering corporate secrets? It added a layer of intrigue and conspiracy that set Assassin's Creed apart.
So, what now? We wait. We cross our fingers and hope that Ubisoft listens to the fans. Maybe they'll find a way to incorporate the modern day in a meaningful way, even if it's not exactly like the original Black Flag. Or maybe they'll double down on the pirate stuff and deliver a swashbuckling adventure for the ages. Only time will tell.
I guess, for now, all we can do is weigh anchor and keep a weather eye on the horizon.
