Ubisoft has confirmed that it is developing a new version of Splinter Cell from 2002, with Far Cry 6 studio Ubisoft Toronto at the helm.
The news comes from an official blog post on Ubisoft's website, which confirms that the publisher has "greenlighted the development of a Splinter Cell remake that will take inspiration from the brand's rich web."
According to the post, the game will be "rebuilt from the ground up" using Ubisoft's Snowdrop engine (this is the one used for the in-development Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora) in an effort to deliver "next-gen visuals and gameplay"; and dynamic lighting and shadows that the series is known for.
In the reveal post, Ubisoft wishes to emphasize that this will be a "top-down" remake rather than a remaster, but that it will always keep the spirit of the original.
According to producer Matt West, the team is "still in the early stages of development," but adds: "What we're trying to do is make sure that the spirit of the early games remains intact, all of them manners that gave identity to the game." beginning of Splinter Cell. So, as we build it from the ground up, we will update it visually as well as some of the design elements to match the comfort and expectations of players, and keep it linear like the original games, not in making an open world.
Based on West's comment, Creative Director Chris Auty goes on to say, "Splinter Cell was a breakthrough in stealth; as Matt mentioned, it was 'stealth redefined.' With an emphasis on getting that core gameplay above all else, and in delivering an ideal: being a ghost. It is important for us to maintain a sense of mastery by supporting players who observe situations, plan their plans, use their gadgets, and creatively outwit the enemy to meet the challenges that come their way. Ideally, they end up coming out the other side without anyone noticing you were there.This is the essence of Splinter Cell.
With West pointing out that the project is still in the early stages of development and that the studio is building its team, we think it's safe to say that it will take a bit of time before the game is released - no whispers. From an exit window in this article. However, after endless rumors about a revival for the series, it's a relief to finally have confirmation.
Analysis: finally a word
It seems like there have been rumors and reports about the revival of the Splinter Cell series for years and we finally have confirmation of something. That said, we really weren't expecting a remake of the original game.
But this may be the right approach right now; to go back to the roots of the series and rediscover and reexamine what made fans fall in love in the first place before doing something completely new. In 2019, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot suggested in an interview with IGN that the publisher was ready to relaunch the series, but said it should think of something different, noting that "the last time we did a Splinter Cell, we had a lot of pressure from all the fans who said "Don't change, don't do this, don't do that", "so that" some of the teams more concerned about working on the brand ".
"Now," he added, "there are things and people now watching the brand, caring for the brand, so at some point you'll see something, but I can't say. Mas."
A recent report suggested that a new Splinter Cell game would take an "open world type" approach, but this announcement seems to distance itself from those rumors, making it clear that the studio intends to "keep it linear like the original games, not doing it is open world.
It's a little hard to believe (or maybe not), but it's been eight years since the last mainline entry in the series, with Splinter Cell: Blacklist releasing in 2013. Fans have been vocal about their desire for a new game. And while the series' leading man Sam Fisher has popped up, making several appearances over the years, this is the first time they've gotten anything more than a cameo.
Interestingly, Ubisoft's interview with the game's development team suggests that this isn't a one-size-fits-all story. Creative Director Chris Auty says, "With this new version, we're building a solid foundation for the future of Splinter Cell," so we can't wait to see what the future holds.