Ubisoft finally decided to sweep the rumors aside, officially confirming that the next entry in the Assassin's Creed series is Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. The company isn't releasing further details, aside from an image of the game's hero and a tease that more information will be coming Monday.

It's interesting to see Ubisoft jumping right to the fourth installment instead of telling a few more stories within Assassin's Creed III's Colonial American setting. Perhaps distancing the franchise from that entry isn't the worst idea. Naval battles were a prominent new addition to ACIII as well; the team may have just wanted to focus on that aspect of the franchise.

The Assassin's have always operated outside the traditional structure of law and order, which makes them prime candidates for exploring the treacherous world of piracy. Treasure-hunting is another aspect of the series that's grown, and it's hard to think of a setting that's more attuned to shovels, chests, and hidden artifacts.

Regardless, we'll have more information on the game on Monday at 11. While you're waiting, you can see the uncropped art below.