The trend for major game releases over the past two years has been to pre-sell gamers on DLC with season pass bundles. Those bundles are now expected and publishers have moved on ton the next trend: the so-called second screen experience.
Mobile apps that tie-in with big games are nothing new, but publishers this year have begun releasing more of them and even ones that can significantly affect gameplay. Ubisoft’s upcoming The Division seems to be tailored around a mobile app through which players can interact with the game world others are experiencing on their consoles. Even Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto V had a “iFruit” app that could affect in-game customization options.
Today, Ubisoft released its mobile app for Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. The app is available through Apple’s App Store for iPads and through Google Play for Android tablets.
The app includes a full map of the game, allowing players to see objectives and mark waypoints. It also allows gamers to send their fleet of ships on missions while away from the main game, allowing them to grind for cargo and money all day long. In addition to those interactive elements, various game stats, unlocks, and treasure maps can be viewed through the tablet apps.
Ubisoft has released a video detailing all of these features and showing how it will quickly sync with what is happening in the real game: