GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

You Can Get Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag For Free Right Now

And Black Flag is the best Assassin's Creed game.

By on

72 Comments

If you never got around to playing Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, then you missed out on what I'd argue is the best Assassin's Creed game in the series. But today's a good day to try it out: It's now available for free on PC.

Ubisoft is holding a promotion this month to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the launch of the first Assassin's Creed: it's giving away PC downloads of Black Flag. From now until December 18, you can get the game through Ubisoft's Uplay service. And once you claim the game, it's yours to keep.

Click To Unmute
  1. Why Are Video Game Adaptations Good Now? | Spot On
  2. Fallout 4 Next Gen Update Comparison
  3. Fallout 4 Steam Deck Verified Gameplay
  4. ALIEN: Rogue Incursion - Announcement Teaser Trailer
  5. Stellar Blade - 13 Things I Wish I Knew
  6. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl — Official "Not a Paradise" Trailer
  7. Manor Lords - Official Medieval City Builder/RTS Launch Trailer
  8. Honkai: Star Rail - "Then Wake to Weep" | Version 2.2 Trailer
  9. Devil May Cry: Peak Of Combat | Dante: Blazing Tempest Gameplay Trailer
  10. SAND LAND — Official Launch Trailer
  11. Sea of Thieves Season 12: Official Content Update Video
  12. Stellar Blade - Hard Mode No Damage Gigas Boss Gameplay

Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?

Sign up or Sign in now!

Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.
This video has an invalid file format.
00:00:00
Sorry, but you can't access this content!
Please enter your date of birth to view this video

By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Now Playing: Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Video Review

Although this year's entry in the series--Assassin's Creed Origins--is, by all accounts, a good game, Black Flag is still considered by many fans (and myself) a high-water mark of the franchise. Black Flag added a deep naval combat system, giving you a pirate ship and the ability to plunder privateers and other navies. It's well worth checking out, especially since it doesn't cost anything.

Ubisoft also put out a standalone story expansion to Black Flag, called Freedom Cry. It's a great add-on that explores more about the life of Black Flag's side character, Adewale. If you're a PlayStation Plus subscriber, you may have downloaded Freedom Cry for free on PS4 a few months ago--otherwise, you can buy it for $15 on PC through Steam or Uplay.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
PC
Join the conversation
There are 72 comments about this story
72 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
  • 72 results
  • 1
  • 2
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for cayrel
Cayrel

62

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Cayrel

I'd rather just buy the game on Steam than have to deal with Uplay.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for pixelpopper
PixelPopper

18

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By PixelPopper

@cayrel: you still have to go through uplay when you buy it on steam

Upvote • 
Avatar image for PrpleTrtleBuBum
PrpleTrtleBuBum

3845

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 16

User Lists: 0

PrpleTrtleBuBum

The best in terms of gameplay development scale and sense of world boundaries perhaps. But this was the game where they admitted "We fucked up the story and will never finish it"

Thorough ACIII (despite some fatigue and issues) I was still excited to see how the overarching plot plays out. The ending was wtf, but was still a powerful cliffhanger that made me excited to see how it plays out. Turned out it didn't play out, and hasn't to this day (I think, after Black Flag I've only gently caressed a couple of the games because on top of the fatigue there's also no motivational plot to push me)

So there's something to love IV for, but also I more consider it the first spinoff than a real episode.

2 • 
Avatar image for BAKGRIND
BAKGRIND

100

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By BAKGRIND

@PrpleTrtleBuBum: I agree with you 100%. And while it can be a good idea to have a spin off every couple of games it would be nice to get back to the story that the originals games had. All of the games after AC III are basically where you are just some some random assassin in some random point in time. The new game is the exception. While it appears to be a very good game on its own, Origins doesn't even try to pretend to be part of the series at least for me. It's a stand alone game with the Assassin Creed name to it.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for guudgidga
guudgidga

285

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 22

User Lists: 0

guudgidga

@PrpleTrtleBuBum: Was signing in just to post this exact comment, but you beat me to it. Similar to Call of Duty 4, it was a great product that started a downward slope of quality.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Dav_id83
Dav_id83

560

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 13

User Lists: 0

Dav_id83

Wish I could download it all I keep getting is a message at the bottom of Uplay saying mu connection has been interrupted and they'll re establish my connection soon. then what ever I am download just fucking stops and I have to quit Uplay in order for it to download for 10 mins and rinse and repeat,

Ubi support doesn't help at all the silly f******

Upvote • 
Avatar image for p1p3dream
p1p3dream

1546

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

p1p3dream

I think that Origins is the most fun to play. The gameplay mechanics seem to finally mostly work. AC2 had the best story. I was really into Kristin Bell when I played that too, which probably helped.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for stev69
stev69

161

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 28

User Lists: 0

stev69

It is perhaps not the best assassins creed game, but it is the one I enjoyed the most. And if you are a fan of the golden age of piracy in general there isn't a better piracy game out there atm.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for asmoddeuss
asmoddeuss

623

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 34

User Lists: 0

asmoddeuss

Assassin Creed 2 was/is the best in the series. Period.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for khanwashere
KhanWasHere

1596

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

KhanWasHere

Assassin's Creed II was the only game in the series I was compelled to finish. Perhaps that makes it the best one.

6 • 
Avatar image for PSYCHOV3N0M
PSYCHOV3N0M

1221

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

PSYCHOV3N0M

@khanwashere: GTA IV was the only game in the series that I was NOT compelled to finish. Perhaps that makes it the worst one.

5 • 
Avatar image for spartanx169x
spartanx169x

2905

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

spartanx169x

@PSYCHOV3N0M: Same here I'm about 70% thru, I just can't get around to finishing it or even playing it.

3 • 
Avatar image for chiefwiggum16
chiefwiggum16

2826

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

chiefwiggum16

I have to download Uplay?.....no thanks

4 • 
Avatar image for WuShogun212
WuShogun212

97

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

WuShogun212

@chiefwiggum16: Never understood why people hate Uplay so much. I've had it for years and never had a problem with it. It is not intrusive in anyway and pretty simple to use. I've had more problems with Steam than I ever did with Uplay.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for chiefwiggum16
chiefwiggum16

2826

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

chiefwiggum16

@WuShogun212: Its just another store app on your PC that constantly needs to update and slow you computer down. Its bad enough having one in Windows 10 store and adding Steam wihc is a must for pc make it more annoying. then you have fools like Ubisoft and EA with their own it just out of control. Sure you can disable them at start up but then when you inevitably want to play a game you need to wait for everything to update.

3 • 
Avatar image for PrpleTrtleBuBum
PrpleTrtleBuBum

3845

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 16

User Lists: 0

Edited By PrpleTrtleBuBum

@chiefwiggum16: If I could I'd still just buy physical copies (and... ahem, do some tweaking to improve usability) and skip the market thing, but for 10 years now all games require Steam/other service anyway

I'm glad though we had time to get so big library of non-connected games that are always fast and easy to boot. I end up playing those games most of the time, even if many are old and completed a bunch of times. Steam/other store games are more like special events that require mentality that "I will start Steam, update everything and then complete the game in the next couple of days" (Or in case of multiplayer games just play it intensely for the week/month that it lasts)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for PSYCHOV3N0M
PSYCHOV3N0M

1221

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

PSYCHOV3N0M

@chiefwiggum16: I've never cared for the AC series but the word FREE almost makes me want to TRY it but Uplay itself is something I don't want to install. I have enough stores installed with Steam, GOG Galaxy, and Origin.

2 • 
Avatar image for spartanx169x
spartanx169x

2905

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

spartanx169x

@PSYCHOV3N0M: Its worth it. the sea battles alone are worth it. You basically level your ship more and more to take on bigger more powerful ships which can be quite a challenge.

2 • 
Avatar image for spartanx169x
spartanx169x

2905

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

Edited By spartanx169x

@PSYCHOV3N0M: Its worth it.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for lionheartssj1
lionheartssj1

5517

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

lionheartssj1

Really trolling for some comments with that headline, Alex.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for heguain
heguain

1433

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 283

User Lists: 36

heguain

I love Black Flag but whenever someone says it's the best as a fact. I feel triggered. Because it has too much piracy. Brotherhood is better, Syndicate had the soul of Brotherhood even better, AC3 dear to me . Anyways Black flag, its damn good.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for nyran125tk
nyran125tk

787

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By nyran125tk

AC 1 was interesting. New. A little different and I actually wanted to know what was going on. After AC1 , the actual game mechanics got very stale for me and when I knew there was no end in sight for the series.....lost total interest. For me AC1 was the best. Because it held my attention, till the end, lol.

2 • 
Avatar image for wexorian
wexorian

3228

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 263

User Lists: 0

wexorian

Even if they will give every game for FREE i will no more go near Uplay and Ubisoft, F them with after EA ofc.

2 • 
Avatar image for gamingdevil800
gamingdevil800

7159

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 76

User Lists: 0

gamingdevil800

Still think the original had the best level design/style. Talking to the head of the brotherhood about your next target then riding out to the city then sneaking in to locate your target was really fun. Definitely my favourite anyway plus it was actually based on a real assassins brotherhood.

4 • 
Avatar image for nyran125tk
nyran125tk

787

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By nyran125tk

@gamingdevil800: yep, same. The first one I enjoyed and really didn't get into the rest of them. It was new, interesting. Then the game mechanic formula got a bit stale for me. I can play Tomb Raider to death. Its mechanics seem a little more challenging or interesting than Ass Creed. Or maybe Lara is just more lnteresting as a character. But ass Creeds game mechsnics got really stale for me. Go to tower, climb, rinse and repeat, avoid guys that don't like you, on the ground.

3 • 
Avatar image for barcaazul
BarcaAzul

3080

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By BarcaAzul

I enjoyed black flag, but it felt a bit soulless. Sea battles were great, but the story was average and ruined by the fake Ubisoft parts to it.

Exploration on land was dull and I have up on collecting things

4 • 
Avatar image for lebanese_boy
lebanese_boy

18036

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

lebanese_boy

The ''best'' AC game has a very POORLY optimized PC port. By all means download it for free because with the way it runs it's not worth any asking price.

2 • 
Avatar image for analgrin
analgrin

1564

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

analgrin

@lebanese_boy: I used to think that until today. I discovered the "physics particles" setting kills performance even on a gtx 1070. I disabled that one setting and maxed everything else with txaa x 2 at 1440p and it rans at a rock solid 60fps (limited by tv)

if I turn AA down to fxaa it runs at 4k very well.

System i7 6700k & gtx 1070, 16b Ram

Upvote • 
Avatar image for asmoddeuss
asmoddeuss

623

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 34

User Lists: 0

Edited By asmoddeuss

@lonesamurai1: What? haha, even today, I can't run this game with stable 60fps (980ti). The optimization for the PC port is horrible for this one, not even modern hardware can fix a wrongly coded game.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for analgrin
analgrin

1564

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

analgrin

@asmoddeuss: Turn off "physics particles" and you'll be able to max everything else at 1440p. It's taken me until today to realize this was my problem all along (my gtx 1070 can now play it at 4k no problem)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for asmoddeuss
asmoddeuss

623

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 34

User Lists: 0

Edited By asmoddeuss

@analgrin: Hi, can't remember if I did that (chances are that I did it anyway). I have to install the game try again :D. Thanks.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for asmoddeuss
asmoddeuss

623

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 34

User Lists: 0

asmoddeuss

@lonesamurai1: Yeah, that was last time I checked the game, I had to lock the game on 30 fps in order to enable vsync, then it was possible to play. I mean, it is a good game (not the best of the series), but optimization is very bad.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-5d04c6ddb5adc
deactivated-5d04c6ddb5adc

59

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

deactivated-5d04c6ddb5adc

@lonesamurai1: Yeah I wish you could brute force it. GTX 1080 Ti, and it can't even hold the frame rate above 45 fps at max settings. Another really buggy port. Just use very high (not soft shadows) and no god rays and no physx and it will work though.

Doesn't support 144hz which is a bummer.

A beautiful game that you can brute force and play at 120hz? Mass Effect 2. Play that instead (editing the config file in your documents folder can unlock frame-rate, unlike AC 4.)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for stev69
stev69

161

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 28

User Lists: 0

stev69

@alistairbrogan: Like you need more than 30fps on a game like this. It's not like it's a competitive twitch shooter.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for lebanese_boy
lebanese_boy

18036

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

lebanese_boy

@lonesamurai1: I do. Some issues can’t just be fixed by “brute forcing” your way through and I am very well aware of the methods you’re referring to. Game’s age is meaningless.

2 • 
Avatar image for deactivated-5d04c6ddb5adc
deactivated-5d04c6ddb5adc

59

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

deactivated-5d04c6ddb5adc

@lebanese_boy: totally sad the port of that game, i really like it at medium settings though which avoids the bugs

Upvote • 
Avatar image for lebanese_boy
lebanese_boy

18036

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

lebanese_boy

@lonesamurai1: No I'm not using the same config but even with two different PCs I still experienced the same issues and that's not a coincidence. If it worked flawlessly with you then by all means good for you and I hope you enjoyed it plenty, but I've known this game to be a mess. The brute-forcing thing should never be an excuse and these devs should optimize their games properly.

For the records I played with a GTX670 first and later on (beginning of this year) with a GTX 1060 6GB. I had a better experience (by a little) with the 670 ironically.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for greaseman
Greaseman

53

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Greaseman

AC 2 is the best. In fact I couldn't play any other AC game for more than 15 minutes after that.

4 • 
Avatar image for Acillatem1993
Acillatem1993

1100

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Acillatem1993

Best AC game? n**** please...

10 • 
Avatar image for DN3D1997
DN3D1997

123

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

DN3D1997

To you is the best,but not for many.AC II & Brotherhood are top!No assassins in Black Flag-just a damn good pirate game.That's all!

10 • 
Avatar image for Elnath10
Elnath10

153

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

Elnath10

Am I the only one who things that the best AC is AC II?

11 • 
  • 72 results
  • 1
  • 2