The present-day sections of Black Flag are somehow connected, according to Ubisoft.
Director Ashraf Ismail talked about the multiplayer component in the game. During the singleplayer missions which feature an Abstergo employee other players will be able to influence the game.
“The biggest thing that we were getting into with Assassin’s Creed 4 is the concept that even in a single-player story – we still have multiplayer, to be clear – but even in the single-player, that you’re connected. “You [will] feel that there’s other people also playing the game and somehow you can interact, or somehow you can take advantage with each other.”
“The coworkers with you – we want you to feel that your friends are co-workers. So other people playing Black Flag are also research analysts. So when they can find stuff in the world, they can share it with you. When they do research, and when you’re doing research, you can share that information and you get a boost for it. Even in a single-player story where there’s a narrative, this is a really big strength of next gen.”
If you don’t want other players to connect to your single-player campaign, you can go offline. Ismael clarified that during the modern day segments the player character is supposed to be the player. As a research analyst working for Abstergo, the player uses new Animus technology which allows for anybody to explore a genetic history.
“We’re pushing the narrative of the Assassin/Templar feud both in the present day and in the past. The reason you’re researching Edward Kenway is he did something very special in the past, very specific. Fans, especially people who know the deep, deep details of the lore, they’ll see what his purpose was. He did something very significant that actually touches upon the other games. If you’re not into that kind of stuff it’s OK, they’re just details.”
“Imagine when you exit that [Animus] workstation, you have this building that you can explore and you can find stuff. So we really push it. For us, that part is an homage to our fans.” Some of the extra content that fans will be able to uncover will reveal more about the fate of Desmond Miles, the protagonist of the previous games.
