Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag remake: New screenshot surfaces online with dev build tag

The last major leak we had about the heavily rumored Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag remake was pretty exciting. A January 2025 report from MP1ST revealed that the remake would not only introduce upgraded visuals (powered by the updated Anvil engine) but also bring fresh gameplay mechanics, particularly wildlife encounters inspired by the recent titles like Assassin's Creed Origins and Valhalla. Also, the PlayStation Store, quite recently in fact, briefly listed Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag as "announced," which could mean that an official reveal might be just around the corner.

Today, a potentially leaked screenshot surfaced online (see below), which adds even more fuel to the growing list of speculations. Shared by a reliable Assassin’s Creed insider @TheHiddenOneAC, the screenshot shows an internal development scene clearly marked "Dev_Build_0425_HavanaScene," showcasing a remastered Havana setting. The leaker claims the image was sent anonymously by someone “close at Ubi.” He even warned followers: “Don’t be surprised if it gets taken down.” At first glance, the leaked screenshot points towards notable upgrades to the game’s visuals, textures, lighting, and details compared to the 2013 original. 

Of course, fans are already making direct comparisons to the original Black Flag. Most agreed the image clearly shows improvements which are consistent with current-generation technology. "We know one thing for sure. It's not the original Black Flag," stated an X/Twitter user.

It’s still unclear when the remake might be revealed. Ubisoft has not commented on the leak, and there’s been no "official" confirmation that the project is even in development - though industry insiders have been hinting at it since mid-2023 under the codename 'Obsidian'. If true, it’s expected to launch in late 2025, considering the studio unveiled Assassin's Creed Shadows quite recently.

A fair number of signs point to this leak being the real deal. But one important thing to note - today is April 1st. While this doesn’t automatically discredit the screenshot or the source (who has a good track record), fans should stay cautious. April Fools' Day is known for blurring the line between real leaks and clever fakes. So until Ubisoft speaks up, this one should remain in the “likely but unconfirmed” category.

Update: Shortly after publication, the original leaker confirmed that the screenshot was part of an April Fools’ joke and not an actual development image from Ubisoft. While the excitement around a potential Black Flag remake is definitely high, no official visuals or confirmations have been released as of now.