It’s a big world in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Here, I want to jot down some tips to help everyone else have smoother sailing through Black Flag's version of the Caribbean. Are you guys ready?
I played the bulk of Black Flag more or less offline on a debug PS3, and after talking to Stephen (who played a retail version of the game online), it became clear that playing online makes it a lot easier to make money. That's because the game contains online-only "social challenges"—gold-laden ships, hidden treasure and rare harpooning challenges that open up and offer you fabulous cash rewards. Stephen had a much easier time paying for the upgrades he needed in the early goings than I did. The "Fleet" minigame, additionally, is only available online. I found it too tedious to sink much time into it, but it does seem like it could be a decent source of income if you dedicate some time to it.
Tips for You to Sail More Smoothly in Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag