Key Takeaways:
- Ubisoft may be preparing to replace Black Flag with a remake, similar to how it handled Assassin’s Creed 3.
- Remasters often fail to preserve the feel or quality of the original, and locking players out of older versions removes choice.
- Game preservation advocates warn against delisting classics in favor of monetizable “remakes” that erase digital history.
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, widely regarded as one of the best entries in Ubisoft’s long-running franchise, may soon be walking the plank. Recent changes to its Steam page list features not currently in the game, leading many to believe the publisher is preparing to delist the original in favor of a long-rumored remake — a move with serious implications for game preservation and player choice.
This wouldn’t be the first time Ubisoft has replaced a legacy title with a shinier version, but that doesn’t make it any less concerning.
Black Flag’s Quiet Update Raises Red Flags
Several observant fans noticed that new features appeared on the Black Flag Steam page without any official patch or update. While developers occasionally refresh old store pages for backend or marketing purposes, the timing feels suspicious given Ubisoft’s rumored development of a full Black Flag remake.
The fear is simple: Ubisoft may follow the same path it did with Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered in 2019 — removing the original from storefronts to funnel new players toward the newer version.
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History Repeats: Remasters Aren’t Always Better
While remastered games can offer technical improvements, they often come at a cost. In the case of Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered, players criticized its washed-out lighting, altered art direction, and lingering bugs. Even years later, fan threads voice frustration that the original version is no longer purchasable digitally.
This highlights a core issue: remasters are often released without the years of patches and polish the originals benefited from. Forcing players to buy only the newer version takes away meaningful choice and risks undermining the legacy of the game.
The Bigger Problem: Game Preservation and Consumer Choice
Movements like Stop Killing Games have drawn attention to the trend of publishers phasing out older titles to boost sales of remakes or sequels. Games like Warcraft 3: Reforged and GTA: The Trilogy – Definitive Edition have faced major backlash for replacing original versions with inferior products — often permanently.
If Ubisoft truly cares about its legacy and player base, the publisher should preserve both the original and remade versions of Black Flag. History, after all, deserves to be experienced, not rewritten.
Conclusion: A Word to the Wise
Until Ubisoft confirms its plans, there’s no official delisting underway. But if you’re a fan of the original Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, now might be the time to secure it in your Steam library — just in case the tides change.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of GameDegen.com. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. GameDegen.com is not responsible for any financial losses.
