Assassin Creed IV - Black Flag: Ubisoft's perl

Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag : The Game

Ubisoft Montreal has traditionally developed Assassin's Creed games, but a new team is developing the next Assassin's Creed. Guillemot did not specify which "new team" is behind the development of the upcoming Assassin's Creed title, or whether it will release on current or future generation platforms.

New Protagonist

Everything We Know About Assassin's Creed 4

The new assassin is Edward Kenway, father of Haytham Kenway and grandfather of Connor from Assassin's Creed 3. He's a "privateer, assassin and occasional pirate." 
Assassin's Creed series creative director Alex Hutchinson has expressed an interest in continuing the story of Connor, protagonist of Assassin's Creed III, but that they would also like to create a new protagonist and setting for new games, ceasing the trilogy system established by the Ezio Auditore games.

Other Characters

New Characters in Assassin's Creed 4

Several historical figures have been confirmed in Assassin's Creed 4

• Blackbeard - A pirate contemporary of Kenway and narrator of the debut Assassin's Creed 4 trailer
• Benjamin Hornigold - A pirate and historical figure
• Calico Jack - A pirate and historical figure
• Charles Vane - A pirate and historical figure
• Anne Bonny - A renowned female pirate and historical figure

New Location

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is set in the Caribbean on multiple islands including playable areas in Kingston, Havana and Nassau. The Caribbean ocean will be an explorable region via Kenway's ship Jackdaw. Smaller islands and locations can be visited, and underwater locations can be explored for the first time in the Assassin's Creed series.

Assassin's Creed 4: The Marine World

The modern-day setting will no longer focus on Desmond but on Abstergo Industries/Entertainment and the research analysts who work to explore Kenway's memories. 

Naval Combat

Assassin's Creed 4: Naval battles

Naval Combat was introduced in Assassin's Creed III and they make a return in Assassin's Creed IV.
Naval Combat is more complex in Assassin's Creed IV, with new weapons, new enemies, new challenges, and a new progression system. One of these new elements is the enemies. Source: Ubisoft press presentation attended by IGN

• See also Jackdaw (Ship)

Enemy Ships

• Charger -- A swift ship that punches into battle, ramming the Jackdaw.

Weapons

Assassin's Creed 4: Weapons

Several weapons including the Hidden Blade return, while Flintlock Pistols can be equipped in a way that allows Kenway to fire four shots successively by strapping four weapons on his front and back.

Trailer: