Is Black Flag a prequel to AC3?

Is Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag a Prequel to Assassin’s Creed III?

The Assassin’s Creed series is known for its complex and intricate storyline, spanning centuries and continents. Two games in particular that have sparked interest among fans are Assassin’s Creed III (AC3) and Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (ACBF). While AC3 concluded with the defeat of Benedict Arnold and the birth of the American Republic, Black Flag takes players on an adventure set during the Golden Age of Piracy, approximately 60 years earlier. But, is there a connection between the two games? Yes, there is!

Let’s dive into the timelines of both games to answer this question. Assassin’s Creed III is set primarily in the mid-1700s, with most of the story taking place during the American Revolutionary War. The game concludes in 1783, while the American colonies are newly independent. Fast-forward approximately 60 years to 1763, the timeframe of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. That’s right; Black Flag takes place six decades earlier than AC3.

Haytham Kenway’s storyline in Black Flag concludes with his apparent death during the events of the Boston Massacre, which incidentally takes place in March 1770. Coincidentally, Connor, Haytham’s Assassin descendant, appears in Black Flag as a young lad in a post-credits scene. This convergence of timelines suggests a shared universe between AC3 and ACBF.

Here’s a brief timeline comparison for better understanding:

Haytham’s storyline serves as an epilogue in Black Flag, setting the stage for Connor’s actions in Assassin’s Creed III. Here are some key relationships and events that connect Black Flag to AC3:

• Haytham Kenway: Shares the same storyline as Eddie Thawne, playing the role of a spy, and has a profound impact on Connor’s lineage.

• Connor Kenway: Makes a brief appearance in Black Flag as a young boy, foreshadowing his future involvement in AC3.

• Haytham’s son Edward Kenway: Becomes the protagonist of Black Flag. Edward is the founder of the Templar brotherhood in the Americas!

• Abstergo Entertainment: Presents Haytham as their latest protagonist in their next big project, further consolidating the connections between games.

• Elderwood: Introduced in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, plays a significant role in Abstergo’s intentions to exploit and manipulate global events.

Key takeaways:

• Black Flag, as a game, may seem unrelated to AC3, but they share key events, characters, and plot threads that bind their stories together.
• Haytham’s storyline serves as an epilogue in Black Flag, preparing the player for Connor’s actions in AC3.
• Edwards’ role in Black Flag, as a Templar, sets the stage for Haytham’s activities in AC3.

These connections demonstrate how Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Assassin’s Creed III share a deep narrative lineage, making it inescapable that Black Flag is a prequel or precursor to AC3, laying the groundwork for later events.

Beneath the surface-level gameplay and engaging narratives, lies a complex web of storylines that span over two centuries, weaving threads between characters and events from the Assassin’s Creed timeline.