Assassin's Creed: Pirates

Assassin's Creed: Pirates
Developer(s)Ubisoft Paris
Publisher(s)Ubisoft
EngineCosmos Engine
Platform(s)
ReleaseDecember 5, 2013
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Assassin's Creed: Pirates is a mobile video game released on iOS and Android devices on December 5, 2013,[1] and it is developed by Ubisoft Paris.[2] The game follows Captain Alonzo Batilla, who is neither Assassin nor Templar, as he commands a ship and crew, while crossing paths with the Assassins and Templars.[3] Gameplay focuses on real-time battles between ships, and it is rendered in 3D.[4]

Gameplay

Assassin's Creed: Pirates is set during the Golden Age of Piracy, where players take the role of Alonzo Batilla, a French pirate captain. The game focuses on naval combat, similar to Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, and players can also manage their crew, upgrade their ship, explore and discover new areas of the Caribbean in Alonzo's ship.[5] There is no modern-day story, the only connection is a small reference in the opening cutscene about Abstergo Entertainment discovering Batilla's connection to La Buse.[6]

Story mission (main objective) and many secondary missions (it will reward players with extra experience and resources and allow them to improve their ship or character stats in the Player Profile, accessible from the pause menu) are available in each map.[7] There is a resource cost to travel across the map, and treasures can be found on each map. When enough enemies are defeated, treasure maps will be awarded and reveals a treasure location. Lost files are spread out everywhere in the playgrounds, and it appears on the radar.[7]

As player's level up, crewmembers are unlocked, who can be hired directly by visiting the tavern, and the player will be also granted perks to improve navigational or combat skills. New ships will be unlocked and bought with gold coins acquired during missions or free plunder. A player's bounty increases each time an enemy is defeated, an achievement is awarded or mission completed, which defines player rank.[7][8]

Development

Assassin's Creed: Pirates was developed by Cosmos, a game engine made by Ubisoft Mobile and Intel.[9] It was announced on 10 September 2013 alongside Assassin's Creed III: Liberation HD, and it was released on 5 December 2013.[10][8][5] The debut trailer shows the story and naval combat.[11][12] Storyline isn't connected to Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and it is also separate to the Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag companion app.[13]

On 9 January 2014 it was released the first update, which includes a new location, Nassau,[14][15] while the second update, released on 7 March, includes new location and mission type: survival missions, fish and hunt whales, and two new ships.[16] On 16 May it was released the third update, which includes La Boca del Diablo and daily challenges.[17][18] A web demo version of the game was released on 19 May, built with open-source framework Babylon.js.[19] On 11 July, the fourth update was released, which includes Isla de la Juventud location.[20][21]

On 4 September 2014, Assassin's Creed: Pirates became free-to-play, and it was released a free update expansion entitled Cold Blood, which incorporates Arctic areas inspired by Assassin's Creed: Rogue.[22][23] On 22 December, another expansion update called The Lost Temples was released, which introduces foot travel and gave players the opportunity to leave their ships and explore 64 hidden Mayan temples on land (escape from an collapsing temple), 24 new treasure chests, and 50 new daily quests.[24][25] Camera pans into first person mode as players have to swipe in any direction to avoid obstacles, which is reminiscent of the 2011 mobile game Temple Run.[26] On 11 June 2015 it was released a final expansion called Quest for Eden, alongside with a trailer which concludes Alonzo's story and quest for La Buse's treasure.[27]

For 2015 Christmas, it was released the update 2.6.1 which containes an exclusive treasure set and ship customization.[28] On 3 February 2016, to celebrate Chinese New Year, it was released the update 2.8.0, which includes exclusive treasure set, customization options created for the event, and the Blackbeard's vessel the Queen Anne's Revenge.[29]

On 19 February 2017, with the release of the iOS 11 update, Assassin's Creed: Pirates was removed quietly from all digital store fronts in App Store without announcements.[30]

References

  1. ^ Goldfarb, Andrew (November 25, 2013). "Assassin's Creed Pirates Release Date, Price Announced". IGN. Archived from the original on November 25, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  2. ^ Goldfarb, Andrew (September 10, 2013). "Assassin's Creed Liberation HD, Pirates Announced". IGN. Archived from the original on September 13, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  3. ^ Makuch, Eddie (December 5, 2013). "Mobile game Assassin's Creed Pirates out today". GameSpot. CBS Interactive Inc. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  4. ^ Futter, Mike (September 10, 2013). "Assassin's Creed: Pirates Brings The High Seas To Small Devices". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on September 13, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Anne (5 December 2013). "Assassin's Creed Pirates is Out Now!". UbiBlog. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  6. ^ Assassin's Creed Pirates Android Walkthrough - Gameplay Part 1 - Chapter 1: A Legend is Born. gocalibergaming (YouTube). 6 January 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "ACP Gameplay Questions". Ubisoft Entertainment. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  8. ^ a b Lewis, Anne (25 November 2013). "Assassin's Creed Pirates - Release Date and Price". UbiBlog. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Intel Outlines 2015 Gaming News at GDC". CDRinfo. 5 March 2015. Archived from the original on 18 March 2021.
  10. ^ Goldfarb, Andrew (25 November 2013). "Assassin's Creed Pirates Release Date, Price Announced". IGN. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  11. ^ Lien, Tracey (10 September 2013). "Assassin's Creed gets a stand-alone naval battle game". Polygon. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  12. ^ Lewis, Anne (10 September 2013). "ASSASSIN'S CREED PIRATES ANNOUNCED". UbiBlog. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  13. ^ Goldfarb, Andrew (10 September 2013). "Assassin's Creed Liberation HD, Pirates Announced". IGN. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  14. ^ O'Brien, Lucy (9 January 2014). "Assassin's Creed Pirates Gets an Update". IGN. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  15. ^ Lewis, Anne (9 January 2014). "ASSASSIN'S CREED PIRATES – MAJOR UPDATE". UbiBlog. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  16. ^ Lewis, Anne (7 March 2014). "ASSASSIN'S CREED PIRATES – SECOND MAJOR UPDATE". UbiBlog. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  17. ^ Nunneley, Stephany (16 May 2014). "Set sail for La Boca del Diablo in Assassin's Creed Pirates update". VG247. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  18. ^ Lewis, Anne (16 May 2014). "ASSASSIN'S CREED PIRATES – NEW UPDATE". UbiBlog. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  19. ^ Farokhmanesh, Megan (19 May 2014). "Assassin's Creed Pirates now available in web browsers". Polygon. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  20. ^ Mahardy, Mike (10 July 2014). "Assassin's Creed Pirates is the Free App of the Week". IGN. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  21. ^ Lewis, Anne (10 July 2014). "ASSASSIN'S CREED PIRATES IS THE FREE APP OF THE WEEK". UbiBlog. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  22. ^ Nunneley, Stephany (4 September 2014). "Mobile game Assassin's Creed Pirates is now free-to-play". VG247. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  23. ^ Lewis, Anne (4 September 2014). "Assassin's Creed Pirates Goes Free-to-Play". Ubiblog. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  24. ^ "Assassin's Creed Pirates on the App Store". iTunes. Archived from the original on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  25. ^ Lewis, Anne (22 April 2014). "Assassin's Creed Pirates - Onshore Exploration Update". UbiBlog. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  26. ^ Assassin's Creed Pirates Mayan Temple Run in Harbor Island. Unlock The Devils Due customization. Alex68 (YouTube). 20 August 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  27. ^ Whritenour, Jacob (11 June 2015). "Assassin's Creed Pirates Receives Final Update". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  28. ^ "Assassin's Creed Pirates on the App Store". iTunes. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  29. ^ "Assassin's Creed Pirates". Google Play. Archived from the original on 9 February 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  30. ^ "Where is Ac Pirates?". Ubisoft Entertainment. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020.