Why Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag won't have multiplayer naval battles

Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag takes to the high seas to capitalize on one of the better aspects of Assassin's Creed 3, which was the naval...

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Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag takes to the high seas to capitalize on one of the better aspects of Assassin's Creed 3, which was the naval battles. While this seems like it would be great for a multiplayer mode in the new game, don't count on it happening any time soon.

"Naval multiplayer, unfortunately, we don't have it," game director Ashraf Ismail told GameSpot. "It's something we tried at the beginning, but we didn't feel we can get it to a good enough level for this iteration."

Of course, that doesn't mean it could not be a DLC addition down the road if Ubisoft can get it "good enough," but that remains to be seen. The game will probably have some form of multiplayer, as that has been available in each Assassin's Creed game since Brotherhood launched in late 2010.

The game will be coming to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii U on October 26, and is a lunch title for Xbox One and PlayStation 4. However, PC players will not be able to get the game until a few weeks after the consoles.

Check out the narrated demo of the game from E3 below.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    June 20, 2013 9:30 AM

    John Keefer posted a new article, Why Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag won't have multiplayer naval battles.

    Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag takes to the high seas to capitalize on one of the better aspects of Assassin's Creed 3, which was the naval...

    • reply
      June 20, 2013 9:35 AM

      When you have 2D positional combat it tends to be extremely difficult to balance it for fun. A relevant example (though 3D) is X-Wing vs Tie Fighter, where a lot of scrums would end up with two ships endlessly circling each other because their movement speed and turning radius were too similar and most ships did not have tracking cannons. In real (flight simulators) flight, there's climbing, maneuverability, speed and flight-dynamic differences between the craft, which makes those dogfights more fun

      This is a bit of a problem in Star Trek Online MP as well, though at least there most ships have firing arcs on their sides (and abilities and turn differences), but it is still an extremely difficult type of combat to make fun.

      Ring Runner is trying the same thing, and one of the few that has a good balance (due to it being a lot like Subspace, where it is more a sport than large-ship battle).

    • reply
      June 20, 2013 9:56 AM

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    • reply
      June 20, 2013 10:39 AM

      I wished with all my body and soul there wasn't ANY MP in this title. Wishes do come true right?

      • reply
        June 20, 2013 10:58 AM

        The Multiplayer in Assassin's Creed is unique and interesting. It's well-designed and different from the SP in a way that makes it an excellent addition to the game. Generally I would agree with you (Dead Space 2, looking at you), but in AC's case it's always been well designed.

    • reply
      June 20, 2013 11:16 AM

      Lunch titles are my favorite titles!

      I Still have Revelations and ACIII left for Breakfast and Brunch respectively, though. #pileofshame

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