Light yer beards, maties, Blackbeard joins Assassin's Creed 4 tomorrow

Come tomorrow, Blackbeard, the most notorious pirate this side of Johnny Depp doing a Keith Richards impression, joins the multiplayer roster in Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag.

Loyal Joystiq readers should recall hints of this addition from two weeks back when a leaked Trophy list hinted at the inclusion of the infamous pirate in an upcoming downloadable addition. That list also mentioned Jaguar and Orchid characters who will be added to the game.

What can we expect from arguably the most infamous cutthroat to ever sail the high seas? Ubisoft puts it thusly: "Blackbeard, wielding his sword and short temper, is not to be trifled with. His reputation as a feared pirate is justly received, and his preferred kill moves include using his tremendous strength to throw his targets off balance and quickly finishing them with one clean strike."

As for logistics, the new DLC (dubbed "Blackbeard's Wrath") will be available on the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3 and 4, and PC. Each of these iterations will set you back $3, though if you already purchased the Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag season pass, Blackbeard and his cronies will be available totally gratis. There is currently no word on when or if Blackbeard will set sail on the Wii U, and Ubisoft representatives have yet to respond to our inquiries.

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ASSASSIN'S CREED® IV BLACK FLAG™ MULTIPLAYER ADD-ON CONTENT, BLACKBEARD'S WRATH, AVAILABLE TOMORROW

First Add-On Content Pack Brings Three New Lethal Characters: Blackbeard, The Orchid and The Jaguar

SAN FRANCISCO - December 9, 2013 - Today, Ubisoft® announced that the first add-on content pack for Assassin's Creed® IV Black Flag™ multiplayer, Blackbeard's Wrath, is available tomorrow for download on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC for $2.99, and is included in the Season Pass.

Three new characters join the hunt: Blackbeard, The Jaguar and The Orchid, each bringing their unique set of skills to battle for the title of best Assassin.

Blackbeard, wielding his sword and short temper, is not to be trifled with. His reputation as a feared pirate is justly received, and his preferred kill moves include using his tremendous strength to throw his targets off balance and quickly finishing them with one clean strike.

The Orchid, a deadly Assassin, grew up in China and served as a military advisor during the Qing Dynasty, honing her murderous skills. She executes opponents swiftly and gracefully with her blade, an extension of her mind and body.

The Jaguar, Cuali, an Aztec warrior from Mexico, took to the sea to fight against the Spanish conquest of Central America. A fighter, he survived the destruction of his community and joined forces with a growing contingent of native Templars who sought renewed peace and order. Driven by a mystical force, The Jaguar strikes swiftly and quietly with his preferred weapon, a discreet axe.

All three characters are available for download from online marketplaces starting tomorrow in Assassin's Creed IV Black Flagmultiplayer, where they will join the hunt for survival.

For players interested in the Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Season Pass, it's available now for $19.99 and includes Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Freedom Cry – a nine mission, self-contained story featuring Edward Kenway's first mate Adewale, as well as the exclusive Kraken Ship Pack, additional single-player missions, weapons, skins, and collectibles, including the Blackbeard's Wrath add-on content as well as upcoming new characters for an expansive multiplayer experience.

For more information on Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag, please visit assassinscreed.com and facebook.com/assassinscreed. For information on Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag multiplayer, please visit assassinscreed.ubi.com/en-us/players/multiplayer.

About Assassin's Creed

Initially launched in 2007, the first five Assassin's Creed games have sold more than 59 million units worldwide, and the franchise is now established as one of the best-selling series ever. Recognized for having some of the richest, most engrossing storytelling in the industry, Assassin's Creed transcends video games, branching out into other entertainment experiences including comic books, mobile games, novels, as well as a feature-length movie currently in development.

About Ubisoft

Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin's Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy's, Rayman and Far Cry. The teams throughout Ubisoft's worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2012–13 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of 1.256 billion euros. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

© 2013 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Assassin's Creed, Black Flag, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. "PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.