Assassin’s Creed developer Ubisoft has unleashed the first glimpse into actual gameplay of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, and so far, it’s looking amazing. Watch the gameplay video below, and believe me when I say it is best watched in 1080p.
The very first thing you’ll notice is the impressive lighting and particle effect systems at work. The sun casts a hazy light through the trees of lush green jungles, smoke and dust rises and dissipates in a realistic manner, and rain drops bounce off of rooftops. Ubisoft has confirmed that this footage was taken from a PC build of the game, but no specific hardware specifications were given, and it is unclear as to how well these graphics will carry over to PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s next console.
What’s more impressive, however, is the drastic change the series is taking, abandoning some of the old Assassin’s Creed gameplay mechanics in favor of fresh ideas. This time around, Ubisoft has created their biggest open world yet, allowing players to explore over 50 locations scattered throughout the Caribbean, all without load times. As captain Edward Kenway, you’ll have full access to your personal ship, the Jackdaw, to travel over seas and partake in the excellent naval combat first seen in Assassin’s Creed III.
The game is set for release on Xbox 360, Wii U, and PS3 on November 1st, but the game will also be released on PC and “next generation platforms,” most likely as a launch title.
