Assassin's Creed Black Flag Remake Tops Global Presale Charts Within 24 Hours

Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - Memory Reset hit pre-order charts less than 24 hours after announcement, dominating storefronts worldwide. The remake of 2013's Black Flag launches July 9 with Chinese voice acting and a ¥248 Steam price tag in China—yet sales momentum suggests pricing isn't deterring anyone.

On Steam's global bestseller list, the game sits at #3 behind only Elden Ring and Wuthering Waves. China's regional chart tells a sharper story: Memory Reset ranks first among all paid titles. That's unusual traction for a premium-priced remake weeks before launch, especially when the original is still available at a fraction of the cost.

PlayStation Store numbers mirror the trend. Hong Kong's storefront shows the Deluxe and Standard editions at #1 and #2 respectively. The U.S. region places Deluxe at #1 and Standard at #3. For a remaster competing against new releases, these rankings signal strong franchise loyalty and effective marketing timing.

The 2013 original remains one of the series' high points—naval combat, Caribbean exploration, and sea shanties that players still hum a decade later. Modern visuals and localized voice work address the two main barriers for Chinese audiences who skipped the PS3/Xbox 360 era. Veterans get a visual upgrade; newcomers access a proven entry point without the series' narrative baggage.

If you missed Black Flag the first time, this is the version to play—it's the series at its most focused before the RPG pivot. Returning players should weigh how much the graphical leap and Chinese VO matter to them, though pre-order volume suggests many have already decided. July 9 will show whether this sales spike translates to sustained player counts, but the Caribbean's calling either way.