As per a report published by Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson, Ubisoft has another Assassin’s Creed remake currently in development. Which game specifically is being remade isn’t mentioned in the report, though there will likely be a sizeable portion of the series’ fanbase that will be desperate to see an ambitious reimaging of the original Assassin’s Creed games. Rumous have claimed in the past that a remake of the first game is coming, but so far, they’ve failed to materialize.

Henderson goes on to state that this second remake is one of several Assassin’s Creed games scheduled to release “by the end of the decade”. Looking at the series’ alleged schedule, however – with Codename Red due out this year, Invictus next year, and Codename Hexe in 2026 – it’s safe to assume that this mystery remake is a ways off from release yet.

Henderson’s report also spills the beans on the series’ upcoming live service hub Assassin’s Creed Infinity and how it will work. Read more on that through here.

But, now that only two competitors are there to try and claim the sweet trophy, it doesn’t mean that the war has lost its charm. It has actually gained a little lustre and attention. And all that intensity has left us all to debate and speculate more. With the new generation of consoles from Sony and Microsoft, one of the burning topics that has come to the front is about the differences in the visual aspects that both the consoles promise. And, it has become quite a thing for discussions. Rightly so.

"Of course it’s not really plausible to boast about either’s exclusive games here. Killzone: Shadowfall looks beautiful on the PS4 with it’s 1080p resolution and 60/30 fps gameplay. But by no means does it undermine other games like Ryse: Son of Rome, which looks absolutely gorgeous and awe-inspiring at 900p and 30 fps."

The launch of the Xbox and the PS4 had put us in an iffy situation. But then again, they ought to, that’s why they’re competitors. Anyhow, that initial tizzy that the manufacturers of both the consoles had us in has died down a lot. But not entirely. In fact, one of such differences in the consoles’ working has been doing the rounds in forums, discussions and articles quite busily for some time. It’s almost like the war days again.

No matter how clichéd, ‘console wars’ still has that nice ring to it. Now what caused people to fervently take up this discussion, is the disparity of the resolution and frame rates between the two consoles. Does it really concern any of us? Well, yes. Mostly because the PS4 – Xbox One resolution and frame rate difference is quite noticeable.

Given the belligerent months since the two consoles were loosed upon the world, save Asia and a few other regions, it has been evident that a number of titles common to both the consoles run at a higher resolution and with higher frame rates on the PS4 vis-a-vis the Xbox One.

Of course it’s not really plausible to boast about either’s exclusive games here. Killzone: Shadow Fall looks beautiful on the PS4 with it’s 1080p resolution and 60/30 fps gameplay. But by no means does it undermine other games like Ryse: Son of Rome, which looks absolutely gorgeous and awe-inspiring at 900p and 30 fps. Hence, we got to find the middle ground. And there’s plenty of that to chuck our sandwiches across.

Starting with the multiplatform mainstream games like Battlefield 4, Call of Duty: Ghosts and Assassin’s Creed 4 brings out the evident. Battlefield 4 runs at 720p @ 60 fps on the Xbox One while the PS4 handles it at 900p @ 60 fps. Even though the difference in running Battlefield 4 on both the consoles may not sound like much, it doesn’t take a very keen eye to find those little differences irksome. The Xbox might have you fall for the ebullient colours and catchy textures, look closer and you’ll see in the following picture that the screenshot on the right in fact, has serrated and saw like edges which is from the Xbox while the PS 4 one on the left is more even and has a smoothness about it. As said before, minor, but irksome to some.

Image Credit: EuroGamer

"Ryse is a great looking game, like heck it is! But isn’t that the exact reason why we had expected more from the Xbox One? Isn’t Ryse proof enough that the console is way more capable than it has let on with games like Call of Duty, Assassin’s Creed and the like?"

Assassin’s Creed 4 has a similar story with the PS4 giving a better visual treat. Speaking in numbers, Black Flag runs on the same frame rate on both the consoles but on the Xbox One it runs at 900p while Sony’s console churns it out in Full HD. Moving on to Call of Duty: Ghosts, the difference become a little more stark. Now on the Xbox One, the colours of the game are more vivid and vibrant while the game’s graphics on the PS4 seem a little washed and drained but the difference in detailing shows up once you compare the game on both the consoles.

There are lots of videos doing the rounds on the internet that portray the difference of resolution between various games available on both the consoles but videos aren’t always the most reliable source especially with respect to the difference in the graphics on two consoles. Having both the consoles at your disposal isn’t always possible either so digging deep enough might help you arrive at a conclusion as to which aspect of the game is better on what console and even help you decide which to buy. Obviously the graphics part is only one aspect of the respective consoles.

People with big TVs who sit farther back from their TV sets while playing games might not notice any difference owing to the resolution but not everyone has a 60-inch TV set and sits back 8+ feet from their sets. And that’s just the difference in the resolution we’re talking about. With the release of Tomb Raider: Definitive edition, the Xbox One lags behind in frame rate deliverance. While the re-engineered game looks stunning on both the consoles, the PS4 version seems to emerge as the winner in certain respects.

The 30fps experience coupled with 1080p output ensures a much smoother gameplay on the PS4 than on the Xbox One. And we aren’t just number crunching here. PS4 wins the race numerically, yes, but it also seems to be the better player with the respect to the actual experience of playing the games. Save Need for Speed Rivals where the Xbox One scores with its vivid and more consistent visuals even though both consoles run it at 1080p @ 30fps.

Very recently Albert Penello, Microsoft Director of Product Planning, said that the difference between the consoles is not that great and that “Ryse is still the best looking game on any platform. Period. End of story.” That latter part had PC users fuming over his statement. He later on clarified that he was referring to to game consoles and not PC.

But what’s of paramount importance is that Albert did admit that there is quite a difference albeit he deemed it “not that great”. If it were not “that great” a difference, we wouldn’t be discussing this on forums and I wouldn’t be writing this article. The fact of matter here is, that there IS a significant difference in the way various games look on the Xbox One and the PS4 and it has been noticed by more than just a few. Ryse is a great looking game, like heck it is! But isn’t that the exact reason why we had expected more from the Xbox One? Isn’t Ryse proof enough that the console is way more capable than it has let on with games like Call of Duty, Assassin’s Creed and the like?

"Why the Xbox One should be rapped with respect to the visual respect can aslo - in fact, SHOULD also - be blamed on the upscaling used in some games. The upscaling causes tearing and jagged edges, loss of detailing and dullness of textures with the depth of field becoming laughably weird. This is most evident in Call of Duty: Ghosts."

Something that has to be borne in mind is that the issue of the difference in resolution and frame rates between the Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PS4 is very subjective. One aspect of it doesn’t define and justify abhorring the whole lot of work put into the consoles over the years. Okay, some games look better on the PS4, but then look at the Xbox One.

It has its own kitty bunch full of goodies too. Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition makes use of Kinect to let the player issue voice commands and let them use the camera to lean and look past walls at some instances in the game. The Xbox One definitely has more vivacious graphics on many games. But that often comes at the cost of crispness and sharpness of detail. Hence, the preference of one console over the other becomes very relative.

Some of us want to enjoy a good game with an engaging and intuitive story and be done with it. Ofttimes we’re frustrated that developers focused on the visual aspect of the game so much that they forget we gamers were actually looking forward to a story. But when they don’t give enough attention to the graphics is also when gamers are abraded of their calm. It doesn’t matter that there are denials and agreements on the differences in the two consoles or not.

What matters is, even if by happenstance, people noticed that Microsoft’s console was dawdling behind the PS4 – no matter how minutely – is de facto pointing towards the fact that Microsoft hasn’t given enough attention to it’s console. Seeing how games look on the PS4, I’d prefer that over the Xbox One.

Why the Xbox One should be rapped with respect to the visual respect can also – in fact, SHOULD also – be blamed on the upscaling used in some games. The upscaling causes tearing and jagged edges, loss of detailing and dullness of textures with the depth of field becoming laughably weird. This is most evident in Call of Duty: Ghosts.

Image Credit: IGN

"The new generation consoles have a kindled new hope and expectations in our minds from the two stalwarts in the gaming industry and it pains when either disappoints. Ryse: Son of Rome shows that the Xbox One is capable of a lot! But what’s of consequence is that the Sony throttled opportunity by its throat when it came rapping at its door and boy! Aren’t we happy."

It’s not that the Xbox One is a ‘bad’ console per se. It’s nowhere near what the word connotes. Microsoft didn’t hit some of the right marks with its new console. There are problems with certain games on the PS4 too. There were reports of consistency issues in Dead Rising 3, COD: Ghosts and Need for Speed: Rivals. But they were fixed so we can’t blame them anymore.

The new generation consoles have a kindled new hope and expectations in our minds from the two stalwarts in the gaming industry and it pains when either disappoints. Ryse: Son of Rome shows that the Xbox One is capable of a lot! But what’s of consequence is that the Sony throttled opportunity by its throat when it came rapping at its door and boy! Aren’t we happy.

The Xbox One is a very capable system and there’s a bright future standing with open arms at the end of the sunlit field. For goodness’ sake Microsoft, it’s not even a dark dank tunnel with a loose roof that you have to run beneath to get to the other end of to rendezvous with the bright shining and hopeful light. How hard is it? You already have a bright glowing field of gleeful gamers glowing with hope and enigmatic belief! It may be too early to judge them but save the trouble of weeping and cursing now than later.

Does it matter that the PS4 offers better frame rates and resolution in a number of games that are also there on the Xbox One? Yes, it does. It concerns no small number people out there. Some people have for the precise reason of the disparity between the visual performance of the two consoles preferred Sony’s progeny over Microsoft’s and that lot is rueful and miffed at the latter’s past tardy and remiss behavior. Microsoft better make sure to get wind of this lot and amend the issue. And soon.

Reporting after the PS4 Indian launch date event earlier today, we revealed that the console will be hitting our shores on January 6th 2014 with first party titles retailing for Rs. 3999 and third party titles retailing for anywhere between Rs. 2499 and Rs. 4499. Now, e-xpress Interactive has announced the price points for three more third party titles that will be launching alongside the console in India next year.

Ubisoft Montreal’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag will retail for Rs. 3499, while Just Dance 2014 will be available at Rs. 2999. Visual Concepts’ acclaimed baller NBA 2K14 will retail for Rs. 2999 in the meanwhile. Enticing prices overall or ridiculously over-priced? Let us know what you think below.

As of now, there are no plans for any software bundles from Sony in India, though retailers may feature their own. The console will retail for Rs. 39,990, with an extra DualShock 4 controller and the PS4 Eye Camera each retailing for Rs. 4990.

It seems that Sony and Ubisoft have teamed up for the release of the PlayStation 4. The two companies have just announced that a special edition Assassin’s Creed 4 PlayStation 4 bundle will be sold at gaming retailers. Originally, a Watch Dogs bundle had been planned between the two, but delays in Watch Dog development necessitated the removal of the bundle from the market.

While Assassin’s Creed 4 is already out on PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii U, and is also planned to release on Xbox One, Ubisoft has announced that Sony platform versions of the game will include a full hour of exclusive additional game play not seen in the other versions. This only reaffirms suspicions that Sony and Ubisoft are somewhat in cahoots. Perhaps this is an omen of Sony exclusive Ubisoft games to come?

This bundle will be available at the time of the PS4 launch, which is November 15th in America and November 29th in Europe.

If you have ever observed Watch Dogs closely, you can’t help but make out the main character’s uncanny resemblance with the assassins from the Assassin’s Creed series. It should come of as no surprise since Ubisoft is behind the development behind both the games but it is interesting to see teasers and cross references seen in the image above.

The image is an obvious reference to Watch Dogs. Blume are the company behind the development of CtOS a.k.a. Central Operating System which is responsible for controlling, maintaining and storing user information in the fictional world of Watch Dogs. Aiden Pearce, the protagonist of Watch Dogs has access to CtOS  and acts as one of the core gameplay elements in Watch Dogs.

Too bad, we have to wait till next year to play Watch Dogs as it was delayed not too long ago. On a brighter note, you can kill your time by playing Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. It is not a bad game.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Source: Reddit

In a recent interview with OXM, Ubisoft Montreal lead designer Jean-Sebastien Decant, insisted that the versions for Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag for Xbox 360 and Xbox One will be virtually identical, despite the major difference in graphics and performance capabilities between the two systems.

“At the moment everybody’s obsessed with the new consoles, so we’re showing the next gen version, but it’s super-cool and super-rich on current gen,” he said. “In terms of specific improvements, yes it’s only visual – you have more shaders on the water, more reflections, and we toy with the lighting, but that’s it. The game started development on current gen, so we thought about it as a transition game,” Lacoste confirmed. “So we were exploring next gen technology with our NPCs, and at the same time continuing with what we did before on Assassin’s Creed.”

“For the moment we’re obviously really excited by the additional power we can work with,” he commented of the Xbox One version.

“Graphically the difference is impressive and is already worth it! But in the near future we’ll really tackle what these new hardware have to give. The connectivity tools, the more ‘open’ infrastructure allowing developers to think about experiences that are not anymore confined to the TV and so much more. The difference won’t be on horsepower anymore but on real creativity.”

The game is due for the Xbox One in November.

Source: OXM

“When we started, it was a few years ago and we knew it was going to be on next-gen, so we knew we had to build a world that fresh and unique. Those were the words we used internally, fresh and unique,” Ismail said.

When Examiner spoke to Ubisoft about Assassin’s Creed 4 being developed for next gen, Jean Guesdon of the Assassin’s Creed IV team commented, “We should never underestimate the power of graphic rendering. The power of the new consoles is just stunning and will allow us to display Assassin’s Creed as we really built it natively.”

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag will release on current gen consoles October 29th, for PS4 on November 15th, and for Xbox One on November 22nd.

In this video, the Game’s director, Ashraf Ismail provides us with commentary on the game play, providing details on ships, combat tactics, and world details as he walks us through the early stages of the game. He speaks to the variance that players will experience in the naval aspect of the game. Gamers will encounter advanced military forces and will have to deal with natural disasters such as hurricanes and intense storms.

We then transition from Naval to land-based fort infiltration, giving us a glimpse of the ground combat, and of the physical capabilities of our protagonist. Once a fort is yours in-game–achieved by taking out the fort’s commander, it becomes yours, defending you from enemy attacks and opening to you the spoils contained within.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag releases in North America on October 29th, 2013 for Windows, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Wii U.

Edward talks about his history and how he used to obey men of privileges and wealth. However, now his loyalty lies within his crew of pirates that are going to be taking everything back that belongs to them.

The ending of the video also teases underwater sharks. Ubisoft previously confirmed that you will be able to use a harpoon to hunt down numerous creatures.

Assassins’s Creed IV: Black Flag will be coming out on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii U and Next-Generation of consoles on October 31st in North America with a European release following the next day.

Let us know what you think of this new gameplayer trailer and if you’re looking forward to playing Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag later this year in the comments below.

Check back on GamingBolt for more media updates and information regarding the Assassin’s Creed franchise.

Ubisoft have released a new trailer for Assassins’s Creed IV: Black Flag that introduces the Golden Age of Piracy and numerous historical pirate characters. Ubisoft have also announced a Blackbeard figurine that can now be pre-ordered from www.uplay.com

The publisher has also said:

We’re staying away from clichés,” lead content manager Carsten Myhill said earlier this year. “Things like walking the plank, parrots on the shoulder and hooks for hands.

“We are giving pirates the HBO, reality treatment. No longer is it for kids.”

Check out the trailer below and the figurine below:

– Story and some Gameplay Details –

• In Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, players will take on a role of Edward Kenway the feather of Haytham Kenway from Assassins’s Creed III.

• Edward Kenway will be able to traverse between three different cities, an open-world jungle that’s similar to the frontier from Assassin’s Creed III and Edward will be able to swim under the sea in the Caribbean to look for treasure and more that we don’t know of yet.

• The three cities are called: Kingston, Havana and Nassau

• The whole world in Assassins’s Creed IV: Black Flag will be entirely seamless without any loading screens once you’re loaded into the game’s world.

• Naval battles will be taken to a whole new level because players will be able to close in on enemy ship and board it to attack it or fight the old-fashioned way if they wish.

• Jackadaw  is the name of your main ship and will be upgradeable throughout the entire game as you progress.

• Multiplayer is confirmed and will take place on land-only with new settings and game modes.

Are you excited for Assassins’s Creed IV: Black Flag? Let us know in the comments below. Check back on GamingBolt for more media updates for Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag.