Dansen mellom PR-folk og pressefolk er av og til både intim og klein. Den siste uken har vi vært vitne til et tonn av lekkasjer rundt Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag fra Ubisoft. Om det er snakk om en nøye planlagt PR-runddans eller reelle lekkasjer er det egentlig bare Ubisoft som vet. Først i dag har utgiveren sluppet de første offisielle detaljene om spillet, som alle har vist om siden de første butikkplakatene dukket opp for en uke siden.

To års utvikling

Ifølge pressemeldingen fra Ubisoft har spillet vært under utvikling i snart to år. Ubisoft Montreal er sjefstudio for utviklingen, men også Ubisoft-studioene i Annecy, Bucharest, Kiev, Quebec, Singapore og Sofia har bidratt.

Spillet er offisielt annonsert til Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Wii U og PC, samtlige versjoner bortsett fra Playstation 4-versjonen vil lanseres 31. oktober i år.

– Med en ny helt og en ny setting har vi laget det modigste og mest unike Assassin’s Creed-spillet så langt, samtidig som vi respekterer fundamentet til franchisen som har gjort serien til en fan-favoritt. Assassin’s Creed IV er basert på en ekte, rå og spennende del av en legendarisk era og vil glede både den etablerte fansen og nykommere, hevder Ubisoft-sjef Yves Guillemot.

Historien handler om Edward Kenway, en ung mann som tidligere har seilt for den britiske marinen men ender opp som sjørøver når krigen han har vært en del av går mot slutten. I tillegg blir han innblandet i en konflikt mellom leiemorderne og tempelridderne. Spillet finner sted i det attende århundre og kjente pirater fra virkeligheten som Blackbeard og Charles Vane vil dukke opp.

Ubisoft hevder spillområdet – det Karibiske hav – vil være åpent med over femti lokasjoner man kan reise til.

Playstation 3- og Playstation 4-versjonene av spillet vil inneholde seksti minutter ekstra innhold til enspillerdelen som kan lastes ned.

Se en bunke skjermbilder og les den opprinnelige pressemeldingen på de neste sidene.

Her kan du se lanseringstraileren til spillet:

Kilde: Ubisoft

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag er utviklet av Ubisoft Montreal og utgis av Ubisoft. Spillet lanseres på Xbox 360, PC, Playstation 3 og Wii U 31. oktober, og på Playstation 4 senere.

Original pressemelding fra Ubisoft:

UBISOFT® JOURNEYS INTO
THE SAVAGE GOLDEN AGE OF PIRATES
WITH ASSASSIN’S CREED® IV BLACK FLAG
 
The New Assassin’s Creed® Arrives in Stores
Starting on October 31
 
 
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK — March 4, 2013 — Today, Ubisoft announced Assassin’s Creed® IV Black Flag, the next installment in the company’s best-selling franchise. Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag introduces an all new hero and setting, and will feature the most diverse and seamless Assassin’s Creed world ever created.
 
In development for nearly two years, the game is being spearheaded by one of the veteran Assassin’s Creed teams in Ubisoft Montreal with support from Ubisoft studios in Annecy, Bucharest, Kiev, Quebec, Singapore and Sofia.  Assassin’s Creed® IV Black Flag will be released on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®4 from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., Nintendo’s Wii U™ system, Windows PC and other next generation consoles. The game will be available on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Nintendo’s Wii U™ system on October 31, 2013.
 
“With the new hero and new setting we are creating the boldest and most unique Assassin’s Creed game yet, while still respecting the pillars of the franchise that have made it such a fan favorite,” said Yves Guillemot, chief executive officer at Ubisoft. “Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag is based on a true, harsh and exciting part of a legendary era and will thrill longtime fans and newcomers alike.”
 
Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag tells the story of Edward Kenway, a young British man with a thirst for danger and adventure, who falls from privateering for the Royal Navy into piracy as the war between the major Empires comes to an end. Edward is a fierce pirate and seasoned fighter who soon finds himself embroiled in the ancient war between Assassins and Templars. Set at the dawn of the 18th Century, the game features some of the most infamous pirates in history, such as Blackbeard and Charles Vane, and takes players on a journey throughout the West Indies during a turbulent and violent period of time later to become known as the Golden Age of Pirates.
 
Gameplay in Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag is based upon the franchise’s proven tenets. Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag features a vast open world with more than 50 navigable locations. Combat combines the weaponry of the Assassin’s Order with armaments of the era, and rewards both daring and stealth. And the series’ acclaimed multiplayer experience is more varied and ruthless than ever in Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag.
 
Customers who purchase Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag on PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4 can download 60 minutes of additional gameplay via the PlayStation Network after the game’s launch.
 
Collector’s Editions of Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag will be available in the EMEA region. More details will be unveiled by the end of March.
 
Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag can be pre-ordered at Uplay shop by visiting: http://shop.ubi.com/AC4BF
 
For more information on Assassin’s Creed, please visit: assassinscreed.com and facebook.com/assassinscreed.
 
 
About Assassin’s Creed:
About Assassin’s Creed: Initially launched in 2007, the first five Assassin’s Creed games have sold more than 55 million units worldwide, and the franchise is now established as one of the best-selling series ever. Recognized for having some of the richest, most engrossing storytelling in the industry, Assassin’s Creed transcends video games, branching out into other entertainment experiences including comic books, mobile games, novels, as well as a feature-length movie currently in development.
© 2007-2013 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Assassin’s Creed, Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries.
 
About Ubisoft:
Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified lineup of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has offices in 26 countries and has sales in more than 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. For the 2010–11 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of 1.039 billion euros. To learn more, please visit ubisoftgroup.com
 
© 2013 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Assassin’s Creed, Black Flag and Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries.
 
“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
 
Kinect, Windows, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft.