AC BLACK FLAG REMAKE BIGGEST CHANGES & MORE

Today's video game news includes significant updates on the Assassin's Creed 4 Black Flag remake, Xbox changes, and several new game releases. The Assassin's Creed 4 Black Flag remake has finally received official details and an announcement from Ubisoft, including a trailer and behind-the-scenes gameplay. The game has been "rebuilt from the ground up" using Ubisoft's newest Anvil engine. Visually, it looks faithful to the original but brighter and crisper. New dynamic weather systems will impact ship battles, with storms affecting wave patterns and ship control. The world size remains the same, but smaller islands will have more detail and interesting elements. A significant change is seamless access to cities and locations, making it a true open world, unlike the original where players had to load into port areas. Visual effects like water, flames, and ship damage are noticeably improved. Gameplay updates include a smoother parkour system with free jumps, side ejects, and back ejects. Expanded underwater exploration is also mentioned. Combat has been reworked, featuring parry flashes, red flash attacks to dodge, and the ability to parry for instant kills. Pistols can be fired at will, and grapple rope pull maneuvers appear to be more frequently usable. Ubisoft confirmed the inclusion of blood in the game. Stealth is enhanced with a new "observed mode" for eagle vision and the ability to crouch anywhere. Shadows and light will now affect Edward's visibility during stealth sequences. Ship combat will feature alternate fire modes for weapons, adding strategic depth, and the waves will affect handling more significantly. Three new officers—Lucy Baldwin, the Padre, and Dead Man Smith—can be unlocked through side missions, each bringing special abilities to ships, such as Dead Man Smith's double shot. Ship customization options are expanded with new skins and the ability to have cats and monkeys on board. The Kenway's fleet system is also being reworked. All old sea shanties are returning, along with ten new songs. New narrative arcs will add approximately six hours of story content, including new scenes with Edward and his love interest, and Blackbeard. Ubisoft stated they are focused solely on Edward's adventure, confirming no multiplayer or DLC for the remake. Modern-day elements will still be present but reworked. WoodKid, involved with the original music, is returning. The game's release date is set for July 9th. The video also highlighted a sponsor, Ridge, showcasing their wallets, including new '90s capsule colorways like Hot Rod, Lone Wolf, Thunderbird, and Mixtape designs, each with a removable chain. They also introduced an atomic purple power bank with pop-out cables for iPhone and Android, magnetic MagSafe compatibility, a built-in kickstand, and the capacity for up to three phone charges. Ridge products are available at ridge.com/gameranks with a 10% discount on limited edition items. Xbox news includes a new CEO, Asha Chararma, and immediate changes. The price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has been lowered from $29.99 to $22.99 a month. However, future Call of Duty titles will no longer be day-one releases on Game Pass Ultimate, joining the tier approximately a year after launch. Current Call of Duty titles will remain available. Rumors of a "choose your own adventure" Game Pass subscription model persist. The previously announced Xbox mobile store, which hadn't materialized, is not cancelled but may be reworked. Xbox is also "doubling down" on its return, marked by an official re-reveal of a bolder, brighter neon green Xbox logo. Asha Chararma and Matt Booty released a manifesto outlining their goals for hardware, content, and experience. The company is also stepping away from the "Microsoft Gaming" branding, returning to "We are Xbox." These changes are happening rapidly, with a focus on games expected to follow. Smaller game news includes gameplay for Orbitals, a two-player co-op anime-style Switch title. Conan Exiles is receiving enhanced graphics, launching May 5th. A lengthy gameplay and features breakdown for 007 First Light was released, which may contain spoilers. Remedy's Control Ultimate Edition is now available on iOS and iPad for five dollars, offering controller support despite the game's challenging nature. New game releases this week include Kilm, an experimental Double Fine competitive team-based multiplayer game. Masters of Albian, the latest game from Peter Molyneux, is out in early access with mixed reviews. Vampire Crawlers, a dungeon crawler spin-off of Vampire Survivors, is also out. Windrose, a pirate survival game, received a "Before You Buy" review. Finally, Sorrowos, the new PS5 exclusive from Housemark, the developers of Returnal, is highlighted as a challenging but adaptable game, offering an easier entry point for casual players while retaining difficulty. A "Before You Buy" video for Sorrowos is available, and a tips and tricks video is expected next week.