Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry
A standalone expansion set in colonial Saint-Domingue.
Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry is an action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Quebec and published by Ubisoft. Originally released as downloadable content for Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, it was later made available as a standalone title. The game is set in the French colony of Saint-Domingue between 1735 and 1737 and follows Adéwalé, a former slave and supporting character from Black Flag, as he confronts slavery practices in the West Indies.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry
- Developer
- Ubisoft Quebec
- Publisher
- Ubisoft
- Director
- Amanda Wyatt
- Artist
- Raphael Lacoste
- Writer
- Jill Murray
- Composer
- Olivier Deriviere
- Series
- Assassin's Creed
- Engine
- AnvilNext
- Platforms
- PlayStation 3 · Xbox 360 · PlayStation 4 · Windows · Xbox One · Nintendo Switch · Google Stadia
- Genre
- Action-adventure, stealth
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Freedom Cry takes place fifteen years after the events of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Adéwalé, a former quartermaster on Edward Kenway's ship the Jackdaw, is now an Assassin. While attacking a Templar convoy, he recovers an ancient artifact but is shipwrecked off the coast of Saint-Domingue. There he meets Bastienne Josèphe, a brothel madame who secretly supports the Maroons, a group of freed slaves. Adéwalé aids the Maroon cause, commandeers a ship called the Experto Crede, and works to disrupt the regional slave trade. The story culminates in the assassination of Governor Pierre de Fayet, who claims slaves are subhuman and incapable of self-governance. The game retains the core gameplay of Black Flag, including naval combat and a third-person open world, and introduces a mechanic for freeing slaves, who serve as resources for upgrades. Players can also recruit Maroons to fight alongside Adéwalé.
Reader's Guide
Freedom Cry has been retrospectively assessed as a notable depiction of the slave narrative genre in video games. Critics praised its storytelling and the decision to focus on an established side character, but were disappointed by its short length and lack of substantial gameplay improvements over Black Flag. The Xbox One version received favorable reviews, while the PlayStation 4 and Xbox 360 versions scored slightly lower. Electronic Gaming Monthly called the story the most powerful in the Assassin's Creed universe, and Eurogamer praised its strong, self-contained narrative. GameSpot, however, was troubled by the handling of dark themes. The game's size and scope were criticized, with IGN describing it as an entire Assassin's Creed game distilled into five hours. In February 2015, the writing team received a Writers Guild of America Awards nomination for the screenplay and story.
Did You Know?
- The game's soundtrack was composed by Olivier Deriviere, replacing Brian Tyler who composed for the base game.
- The standalone version was released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in February 2014, and for PC later that month.
- Freedom Cry was included in the 2019 compilation Assassin's Creed: The Rebel Collection for Nintendo Switch.
- The lead writer, Jill Murray, also wrote Assassin's Creed III: Liberation and the Aveline DLC for Black Flag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the playable protagonist of Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry?
Adéwalé, a former slave who appeared as a supporting character in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, becomes the central hero of this expansion. Players control him as he organizes resistance against the slave trade in the French Caribbean.
Where and when does Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry take place?
The action unfolds in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, the territory that is now modern-day Haiti, spanning the years 1735 through 1737. This places the narrative roughly a quarter-century before the events of Black Flag.
How was Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry originally released to players?
It debuted in December 2013 as a downloadable content pack tied to Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Ubisoft subsequently reissued it as a standalone product in February 2014 for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PC, with later ports reaching Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Google Stadia.
What is the main conflict in Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry?
Adéwalé wages a personal and political war against the institution of slavery by assembling a militia of freed and escaping enslaved people known as the Liberators. His campaign targets colonial officials, slave traders, and the broader system that keeps the population in bondage.
Who developed and published Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry?
Ubisoft Quebec led the development effort, with Jill Murray credited as the lead writer shaping the narrative. Ubisoft served as the publisher, bringing the title to a wide range of platforms over the course of its release cycle.
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