After years of rumors, Ubisoft has finally confirmed that a new Splinter Cell game is in development at its Toronto studio. The tentatively titled “Splinter Cell Remake” looks to be in the initial stages of development, which has us wondering whether it’ll be a straight remake or a full reboot of the series. Fortunately, the devs answered a few questions as to their motivation on Ubisoft’s official blog.
Will the new Splinter Cell be a remake or reboot the series?
So far, we know next to nothing about the new Splinter Cell’s plot (or what platforms it’s targeting) other than it’s being pitched as a remake of the original game. Producer Matt West stated that the title will keep the linear format of the original instead of changing to the open-world style Ubisoft is famous for. However, players can expect visuals and design elements to receive updates.
Of course, Sam Fisher will remain the central character of the game. However, the studio will explore how modern lighting, animation, AI, audio, and visuals can be adapted to enhance the original experience. So, it sounds like the devs are taking the Resident Evil 2 Remake approach, where the original content shows through but has been adapted to modern gameplay with additional material added.
The devs didn’t explicitly state that the Splinter Cell Remake would mean a reboot for the series. However, we can’t see the series continuing from Blacklist after going all the way back to the beginning with a remake of the original game. Additionally, Creative Director Chris Auty stated, “With this remake, we are building a solid base for the future of Splinter Cell,” in the interview. That seems to indicate that the remake will be a jumping-off point for future entries. Whether that means Pandora Tomorrow will be remade next, or a whole new continuity will be produced isn’t known yet.
