In May 2026, Ubisoft Singapore Studio hosted an introduction and hands-on event for 'Assassin's Creed Black Flag Rethinked.' The event, attended by nearly twenty media representatives and creators from Japan and South Korea, provided an opportunity to engage with key developers from the Singapore studio about the game.

I also had the opportunity to speak with game director Richard Knight. The interview with Director Knight focused primarily on the game's overall systems, including combat and game logic.

Looking at the announcement, the melee combat system seems closer to the action RPG style seen since 'Origins.' What was the reason for choosing this direction, and what kind of combat experience can players expect.

"The combat style of the original 'Black Flag' felt somewhat dated by modern standards, so we decided it needed to be reconstructed with a modern action style. However, rather than a simple RPG style, we aimed for a feel closer to action-adventure and fighting action games. Players can still engage in lethal combat, but they must properly understand timing and skill transitions. The key is knowing when to use various tools like pistols, smoke bombs, sweeps, kicks, and swordsmanship. Our goal was to create a more modern, skill-based combat experience.

Since Edward Kenway's combat style has changed significantly, it seems like there will be more diverse approaches to using equipment and weapons. Can players expect a structure that allows them to solve combat creatively.

"In this title, we've configured Edward to utilize a wide variety of tools. But what's important is that the AI also reacts to player behavior. For example, skills like kicks or sweeps are powerful, but if used repeatedly, enemies will learn and counter them. The same applies to pistols, blow darts, rope darts, and smoke bombs. Players must constantly change their strategies based on the situation. Additionally, there are various types and characteristics of swords and pistols, each with effects that enhance specific playstyles. We intended for players to build their own version of Edward.

Some have evaluated recent Assassin's Creed titles as focusing more on movement efficiency than parkour freedom. What kind of balance did 'Rethinked' seek between the original's unique parkour feel and modern control convenience.

"Because this title was rebuilt from the ground up on the new Anvil engine, parkour also had to be completely reconfigured. However, by using the latest engine, we were able to incorporate a significant portion of the parkour system and the latest update elements from 'Shadows.' This includes features like manual jumping and side/back jumps. We also added advanced parkour options separately. That said, because the Caribbean world is much narrower and denser than in other titles, Edward's movement and the camera were adjusted accordingly.

Looking at the announcement, parkour and stealth also seem to have been significantly modernized. Aside from combat, what is the biggest change in terms of the gameplay feel.

"I think the change to the stealth system is the most significant. Thanks to the latest engine technology, the light and shadow system now affects actual gameplay. Enemy vision and detection speed vary depending on how dark your hiding spot is, the weather, and the time of day. In a storm, it becomes harder for enemies to spot the player. We also added the ability to crouch or put on a hood at any time. We made it so players can adjust their infiltration style much more freely.

With the addition of new pirate officers, ship combat seems set to become more dynamic. The naval battles in the original 'Black Flag' were particularly well-regarded; what has improved the most in this title.

"There are two major changes to naval combat. The first is the water surface technology based on the latest engine. By applying technology that has advanced more than 13 years beyond the original, we can achieve much more realistic waves and weather. Giant waves can destroy ships, and battles can take place during storms. The second is tactical elements. The new officers each provide unique abilities. For example, Lucy's perfect defense ability can significantly reduce damage if used at the precise moment, but the player must read the situation themselves. Like combat, we provide more options, but how well you utilize them is what matters.

In the original, the transition speed between naval and land content was very fast. How did you adjust the tempo of open-world exploration in this title.

"The most important thing we considered for this title was freedom. Loading screens when entering cities have been removed, and players can jump into the sea at any time. You can swim directly to a ship in the distance or dive at any location you want. We wanted to connect all the flow as seamlessly as possible. For example, if you change your mind while swimming in the sea, you can immediately fast-travel back to your ship. The goal was to allow players to freely switch between assassin and pirate gameplay in the way they want.

Compared to recent open-world games, what do you think is the differentiated gameplay feel of 'Rethinked'.

"I think the reason the original 'Black Flag' was special was that it naturally provided the pirate game and Assassin's Creed experience simultaneously. Players could enjoy treasure, ships, and naval combat, and then immediately switch to assassination, stealth, and parkour gameplay. And this is combined with real historical figures and era-experience elements. The experience of being with historical figures like Blackbeard is a unique feature of Assassin's Creed. I think the fact that these elements coexist is the unique feel of 'Rethinked.'

Was there any system that saw the biggest change in internal playtest reactions during the development process.

"The most heavily revised system was definitely combat, because it had to be rebuilt from scratch. Personally, I really liked the kick skill, but during testing, there was feedback that it was too powerful. So, we modified the structure so that the AI learns from repeated use and counters it. We kept repeating the process of adding a new skill, making it powerful, and then adding AI responses to balance it. I think that cat-and-mouse structure is the core fun of the current combat system.

It seems there is quite a lot of content added compared to the original. What is the average total playtime the development team expects.

"The original main story was about 20 hours long, and including side content and exploration took an additional 10 to 20 hours. On top of that, about 6 hours of new content has been added. However, if you proceed with all map exploration, collection elements, and achievements, the actual playtime could be much longer. You can progress quickly, but if you want to enjoy it deeply, it will be a fairly large-scale game.

In the demo, it was confirmed that a cover skill that reduces damage from enemy ship cannons is unlocked after completing a mission related to Lucy Baldwin. It was a skill that could be used freely before; why did you change it this way?

"The original development team also had the idea for an officer system. I thought one of the cores of the pirate fantasy was having unique crew members and companions. In this title, I wanted to make each officer not just an NPC, but a being with actual abilities and narratives. Lucy's ability is also not just a simple unlockable element, but a structure learned by building trust and forming relationships. Through this, I wanted to emphasize Edward's aspect as a 'pirate captain' more.

In the demo, I could see accessory slots in addition to weapons and clothing. How do accessories work.

"Accessories provide additional effects that enhance character abilities. For example, they can make parrying timing easier, increase rewards for obtaining treasure chests, or make stealth more advantageous. There are also effects that increase underwater breathing time. Most are connected to the combat system, and they are designed to allow players to configure Edward to fit their own style.

The newly added weather system and dynamic environmental expressions were also impressive. How do these elements affect actual gameplay.

"While some missions have fixed weather, weather basically has a direct impact on actual gameplay. In a storm, it becomes harder for enemy ships to spot the player, and on land, stealth becomes easier. At sea, environmental elements like giant waves, waterspouts, and lightning also appear. In particular, giant waves can destroy enemy ships. In fact, in some battles, it is possible to lure enemies into a storm to deal with them. Of course, the player can also take damage, so piloting skills are important.

Can situations occur where the player dies directly from environmental elements like lightning.

"It is possible. Lightning actually damages the player's ship as well. A warning is displayed, but if you are sailing fast and your turn is delayed, you will get hit. I have had to restart missions several times after being struck by lightning.

I am curious if other regions besides Havana have changed compared to the original.

"I would describe the overall direction as 'the same but a bigger world.' While maintaining the existing locations and structures, we added much more detail and exploration elements. We placed new treasures and content on small islands, beaches, and underwater areas. In the original, there was loading when entering cities, but this time, as everything is connected into one world, we were able to meticulously rework the entire map.

In the original, you could use the hidden blade directly during combat, but in this demo, I couldn't handle it directly. Why was the main weapon fixed to dual swords?

"In this title, we decided to focus on a sword-centered combat style by default. However, the hidden blade has not completely disappeared. When you break an enemy's defense and trigger a finishing attack, the hidden blade is used in some execution animations. Currently, we are prioritizing the new combat system and new skills like sweeps and kicks, but we haven't completely closed the door on future expansion possibilities.