While chock full of interesting new experiences, specifically Hyper Scape, and the cinematic reveal of one highly anticipated Far Cry sequel, at the close of Ubisoft’s streaming event one question remained on the mind of many a gamer: what happened to Splinter Cell? Although Sam Fisher’s mug may still have appeared via Tom Clancy’s Elite Squad, a certain amount of hype had been building for some sort of reveal that Ubisoft failed to deliver upon, so much so that the Splinter Cell name itself was trending on Twitter not mere hours following the event.
It beckons concerns on the nature of gaming’s second-most beloved spy thriller franchise and leads many to wonder: is Splinter Cell now gone for good? Or, is Ubisoft simply keeping this one as close to the chest as a top-secret NSA operation?
Rumors of a 2020 Release
The last time players were dropped into the shoes of agent Fisher was in 2013’s Blacklist, which fared relatively well with fans and reviewers alike with most Metacritic scores averaging at 82 and above. Ever since longtime fans have been begging Ubisoft to deliver a fresh and compelling new Splinter Cell experience and, despite a maelstrom of whispers behind the scenes, not a single one has been wrought into existence.
Over the past several years, various rumors have been circulated regarding the Splinter Cell franchise, yet none seem to have had any substantial weight. It all began at E3 2017, when Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot sparked the match of anticipation with a variety of comments on the franchise, none of them cementing anything in regards to any actual forthcoming experience. In his own words, quoted from a Reddit AMA:
At the time, he was absolutely right. According to a 4chan forum leak rehashed by Tyler Fischer of ComicBook.com, four different Splinter Cell games were in development over the past seven years and each one was canned; a sequel to Blacklist, a VR experience, a first-person title, and even a Splinter Cell open-world game. All got the boot and, as it were, it would seem no fans will be dropping into the shoes of Sam Fisher any time soon…
“We don’t have anything specific to share at the moment but teams are working on different things, so stay tuned for more.”
Well, if you don’t count Elite Squad, that is.
No Ubisoft Forward Showcase
Seven years later and the only sign of Splinter Cell interest Ubisoft has shown is in the most recent announcement of a mobile Tom Clancy all-stars game, which has already left many in the community jaded, to say the least. It’s showcased best in the comments section of the Elite Squad trailer, wherein a number of hilarious hot takes have abounded:
As mentioned previously, the lack of any sign of Splinter Cell led to a social media frenzy with the franchise trending in the video game section on Twitter. Most of the posts were fans mocking Ubisoft not only for their delivery of a mobile game nobody asked for but also for completely ignoring the fanbase. It’s clear there is more than a little desperation for a new Splinter Cell outing, yet Ubisoft is either remaining tight-lipped or has absolutely nothing in the cards for one of their most beloved flagship franchises.
“When we asked for a new Splinter Cell game we didn’t mean this.”
“What are you doing to Sam Fisher. To the Splinter Cell fans. Damn.”
“Tom Clancy is probably rolling in his grave.”
So, Where Exactly is Sam Fisher?
Splinter Cell fans are some of the truest and most dedicated in the industry, as proven by the community’s most recent attempt at calculating agent Fisher’s total kill count. Meanwhile, Ubisoft has been busy with their next-gen Assassin’s Creed title, a sweet new battle royale, Far Cry 6, and the highly ambitious third Watch Dogs experience, not to mention every Splinter Cell’s favorite new mobile game. At the culmination of the Forward event, however, Ubisoft did leave open some room for hope with the announcement of yet another subsequent Forward event. Could Sam Fisher make an appearance, this time with less Fortnite-esque graphics?
One thing also stands out: little if any of Rainbow Six: Quarantine was shown beside the E3 2019 cinematic trailer during the pre-show event. Ubisoft could potentially be leaving all Tom Clancy-related IP to one main showcase to be revealed later this year and, hence, nearer to the next-gen console breakout. Theories surmount, then, that an extremely classified Splinter Cell game could be in development for next-gen platforms, but with the way Ubisoft has thus far handled the franchise it also wouldn’t be too far fetched if there are no plans at all in reviving this untimely classic of a spy series.
Only time will tell - though, it’s expressed best in Sam’s response to the sailor in the very first Splinter Cell:
“I’m not here at all.”
NEXT: What We Want In The Next Splinter Cell
