If AC Black Flag gets remade: Ubisoft needs 5 key ideas for a hit

Like every other gamer across the world, I was scrolling through my PS5 library on a random Wednesday night, debating that familiar question we all ask ourselves every now and when –  What do I play today? And then I saw it – Assassin’s Creed Black Flag. I had played this game years ago on my PS3 and felt an instant nostalgic rush the moment I saw our hooded protagonist in my PS5 library. And with all the recent rumours floating around about Ubisoft possibly remaking it, I couldn’t help but click install. 

The moment I started playing, the memories came rushing back. The shimmering Caribbean waters, the chaotic sword fights, the unmistakable pirate energy that only Black Flag has. But what really struck me was how good the game still looks. This is a 2013 title, which makes the game more than a decade old. Yet the sunsets are still breathtaking, the stormy seas still feel dramatic and Edward’s journey still hits just as hard. It almost felt strange to think that a game this old still has more soul than many modern AAA releases.

Which is exactly why the idea of a remake feels so exciting. If Ubisoft is actually rebuilding Black Flag from the ground up, there is a real chance to make something special. Something that captures the magic of the original, but also embraces everything we expect from games in 2025. And as someone who just started replaying the 2013 masterpiece, I have a very clear picture of what I want this remake to be. Read on.

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AC Black Flag needs next-gen visual that’s not just cosmetic

The most obvious thing a remake can deliver is better visuals, but for Black Flag, this isn’t just about prettier lighting or improved character faces. This game lives and breathes through its world. The Caribbean is a character. The ocean is a character. The weather is a character. And modern hardware can push all of it to another level entirely.

Imagine sailing at night while lightning crackles across the sky, illuminating the waves in real time, or the bustling markets in Havana where NPCs actually react to your presence. Even the smallest things can completely change the experience. For instance, rope physics during naval battles, cloth movement on the ship’s sails, better fire simulation when ships explode, richer foliage during island exploration etc. Small visual touches that weren’t possible in 2013 can turn the Caribbean into a world you can happily get lost in for hours.

The original already holds up surprisingly well, so a true remake could make it feel like a modern blockbuster without losing the charm of its art style. Black Flag doesn’t need a different identity. It just needs more detail, more life and more dynamic elements to elevate what’s already great.

Don’t change the original Assassin’s Creed Black Flag storyline

The second thing the remake absolutely should not touch is the story. Edward Kenway’s arc is one of the strongest and most grounded narratives in the entire franchise. He is flawed, selfish, charismatic, and even naïve. 

Recent Assassin’s Creed protagonists sometimes feel too polished or heroic. But Edward is the complete opposite. He’s a pirate pretending to be an assassin, not the other way around. And watching him stumble, learn, break down, rebuild and eventually find a sense of purpose is still one of the most satisfying journeys in any AC game.

And the supporting cast is unforgettable. Mary Read, Adewale, Kidd, Blackbeard, Benjamin Hornigold, even the random drunk pirates singing on your ship give this world so much personality. This is a story that feels complete. It doesn’t need extra subplots or changed motivations. It simply needs to be retold in a modern format so a new generation can experience the same messy, emotional and absolutely iconic tale.

Nostalgia aside, Black Flag’s narrative is timeless. It’s one of those rare stories that deserves to stay exactly as it is.

Better controls, smoother movement and modern stealth

Now, let’s talk about something that can definitely be polished – the controls. Black Flag’s movement system shows its age the moment Edward decides to climb a wall you never wanted to climb. Or the moment he sprints into a mission area and triggers every enemy because the stealth crouch animation wasn’t as flexible back then.

Modern AC games have refined movement a lot, especially AC Mirage and AC Shadows. The freedom, precision and responsiveness in those games would work beautifully in Black Flag’s world. Imagine parkouring across Havana rooftops with tighter animations. Or stealth assassinations that feel smooth instead of stiff. And finally, think of Edward moving with the intent and accuracy that modern AC protagonists have.

Combat could also be improved without changing the core identity. Black Flag’s swordplay is fun, but shallow. Counters and strikes get repetitive. A remake could add more combos, more weapon variety, heavier impacts and fluid transitions. Nothing overly complex. Just enough depth to make swordfights feel richer and more satisfying.

Stealth AI could also use an upgrade. Enemies can behave more intelligently, respond more dynamically to sound and visibility and give the player more opportunities to plan their approach instead of relying on predictable patterns.

These improvements wouldn’t change the soul of the game. They would simply bring it to the standard players expect now.

Naval gameplay deserves a full modern expansion

Black Flag is remembered for many things, but if you ask any fan what made it special, they’ll say one word – ships. Naval combat is the beating heart of this game and a remake could push this even further.

Imagine storms that affect ship handling. Waves that rise and fall with dynamic physics. Enemy ships that try real naval strategies instead of circling you blindly. Realistic damage models where cannonballs rip through sails, break masts and change how your ship behaves mid-fight.

The Jackdaw is basically a second home in Black Flag. Giving it more interactivity, small upgrades, and meaningful customisation options would make the remake even better.

Denser cities, more NPC interactions 

One area where the original shows its age is population density. The towns look great but they feel empty by modern standards. Now when you play open world games, you expect background characters to feel alive. To react to weather, to talk to each other, to walk around with purpose.

A remake can transform Havana, Nassau and Kingston into living, breathing hubs. Street vendors shouting, guards patrolling with actual patterns, pirates telling stories, markets reacting to time of day and weather and much more. Basically, it is all about those little moments that make you pause and look around because the world feels so alive.

Quality of life changes that make everything smoother

There are small things that can make the whole experience feel clean.

Some of the things that could be incorporated in the remake are better inventory and crafting menus, smarter fast travel system, shorter loading times, improved map filters, a photo mode and cleaner UI. And above all, a more forgiving tailing mission system.

None of this changes the story or gameplay. But it makes the experience smoother and more enjoyable, especially for new players.

Why Black Flag deserves a remake in Assassin’s Creed franchise

There are very few games that hold up after a decade. Even fewer that still feel fresh. And almost none that can still pull players back purely by the memory of how they felt when they first played it.

Black Flag is special. It is the perfect blend of exploration, storytelling, chaos and heart. A remake would not just be a nostalgia trip. It would be a chance for an entirely new generation of players to experience one of the best Assassin’s Creed titles ever made.

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