Assassin's Creed 4 News: Gameplay Trailer for PS4, Xbox One Released [Video]

Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag has been extensively previewed by Ubisoft leading up to it's Oct. 29 release date on current gen systems such as the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC and Wii U, but now the publisher has released a new video showing off the next-gen version of the game that will be a launch title for both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The new preview can be seen here and in the video below.

The video is narrated by associate producer for the game Sylvan Trottier, and shows the work that the team behind the game has done to make the next-gen version of the game stand out. Trottier first discusses how Ubisoft brought the ocean to life for the game. He says they used different physics equations to simulate how actual ocean waves react to different stimuli to make the vast sea seem like the real Caribbean. Ubisoft has also put in a lot of work into making the lighting of the ocean realistic and to show depth as well. This is seen when the player is navigating during a storm and must account for the waves tossing the boat around in the dark.

Next, the weather of the game is shown, and Trottier reveals that for rain, each raindrop is independently lit on next-gen platforms. The weather effects will also account for how wind affects rain puddles and ripples, as well as how water will reflect images in the game. Fog effects will have weight and volume to them, and will be changed based on how light reflects off of the moisture.

The lighting for the game has been revamped, giving light the ability to bounce around the scene and change colors depending on the surface it reflects off of. Next, Trottier shows how the next-gen technology allows the game to have two different dynamic objects like ships work in sync and create an environment that allows seamless transition between the two for both the player and NPCs. The next-gen technology also carries over to the plant life of the game. Many more plants can be used as dynamic environment elements, and can be used for stealth gameplay. Players will be able to tell where they are in foliage just by looking at the way the plant's react to a player's movements.

Ubisoft has topped themselves creating the world of Assassin's Creed 4, and the game should set the bar for what to expect for next-gen environments.