Fans have been campaigning to see the return of Sam Fisher and the Splinter Cell franchise for years, though it has largely fallen on deaf ears. While Sam Fisher has made appearances in other Ubisoft titles since the release of 2013's Splinter Cell: Blacklist, many have been frustrated that the character has not appeared in his own title in over eight years.
Thankfully, news broke earlier this week that indicated Ubisoft has greenlit a brand-new Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell game, which could be a true return to form for Sam Fisher. However it comes during a particularly tumultuous time for Ubisoft, both due to ongoing concerns with harassment at the company and because some fans are growing tired of the studio's repetitive output. If Ubisoft truly hopes to win back longtime fans with this new Splinter Cell title, it needs to change its direction moving forward.
The Ubisoft Formula
When Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell debuted in 2002, Ubisoft was very different from the publisher fans know today. The Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six franchises were the publisher's first major successes in the United States after they acquired the rights to the IP by purchasing developer Red Storm Entertainment. This was also a time where Ubisoft's titles were more niche and relied less on continued support from players, such as Beyond Good and Evil and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.
All of this is to say the Splinter Cell series is noteworthy for coming during a particularly creative time for Ubisoft. Before the publisher set its sights on chasing trends, it was managing to release titles that resonated with audiences due to their uniqueness among other AAA game releases. This is a major element of Ubisoft's development that has seemingly taken a back seat. In the past two years the publisher released titles like Ghost Recon: Breakpoint and Hyper Scape, and it is working on the highly controversial Tom Clancy's X-Defiant. All of these titles were met with negative feedback from fans and critics for their trend-chasing natures.
A major fear fans have regarding this rumored new Splinter Cell game is that it will be another victim of Ubisoft's games-as-a-service model. Even largely single-player games like Assassin's Creed: Valhalla and Far Cry 6 have been criticized for advertising DLC long before they were available, leading some to speculate that the publisher goes out of its way to withhold content for later paid DLC. Given it's something fans have wanted for years, Splinter Cell deserves better, and Ubisoft should avoid pulling any of these practices with the next game in the series.
The Legacy of Splinter Cell
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is one of Ubisoft's most iconic franchises, and the publisher clearly recognizes this given Sam Fisher's many appearances in titles such as Rainbow Six: Seige, Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, and the mobile title Elite Squad. On top of this, the franchise is set to receive an animated series on Netflix and a VR spin-off in the near future. Given it's clear that Ubisoft acknowledges the demand for a new Splinter Cell, the publisher needs to deliver on giving fans the next true adventure for Sam Fisher.
Splinter Cell: Blacklist was a somewhat divisive title given longtime Sam Fisher voice actor Michael Ironside was unable to return, but after recovering from a battle with cancer he returned in Ghost Recon: Wildlands. Given he also returned to portray the older Sam Fisher seen in Rainbow Six: Seige last year, one can assume Ironside will return to portray Sam in a new title. However, if this isn't the case, the game still has an oppertunity to deliver a memorable experience. Ironside's portrayal of Fisher is iconic and he is irreplaceable, but perhaps the next game could be framed as an older Sam's final mission ala Uncharted 4: A Thief's End.
Regardless, there is a ton of potential in the next Splinter Cell title, and Ubisoft should understand fans' demands given the continued relevance of Sam Fisher and the series. Here's hoping the publisher comes through with a true return that respects the series' best qualities.