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- Ubisoft San Francisco began working on a new Splinter Cell title in 2017.
- This project was eventually transitioned to a live-service game after executives showed interest in the genre.
- It was eventually released as XDefiant but was shut down just one year later.
Update:-
Following this report, former XDefiant executive producer Mark Rubin has come forward with an update on the situation.
He states that XDefiant was made as a result of a project that was ambitious in nature but not related to Splinter Cell. The aforementioned game was later cancelled, and the team pitched an arena shooter before eventually releasing XDefiant.
The producer did not rule out the possibility of the team working on Splinter Cell before his arrival at Ubisoft. However, he stated that the gaming giant usually allows its developers to exercise a lot of freedom in terms of the projects they want to tackle.
Original Story:-
Ubisoft is currently developing multiple remakes, including one for Splinter Cell. This rendition of the IP is set to introduce new fans to the franchise, successfully reviving one of the best stealth-action games the industry has to offer.
While fans continue to wait for Splinter Cell Remake, a new report has shed light on the fact that this is not the studio’s first attempt at bringing the series back in recent years. In fact, a new game based on the IP was in development as early as 2017, but Ubisoft was too interested in live-service gaming at the time.
Why it matters: Like many other studios, Ubisoft has attempted to break into the live-service market on multiple occasions, but the team has failed each time.
As reported by Jason Schreir, Ubisoft San Francisco began working on a Splinter Cell game in 2017. The project was in development for a few months, and spirits were high at the studio, with the team being excited at the prospect of returning to Splinter Cell.
Unfortunately, these plans were halted when Ubisoft executives saw the success of live-service gaming and wanted to jump in. Ubisoft San Francisco then attempted to transition the project toward a live-service model, with the game eventually releasing as XDefiant.
Although XDefiant showed immense potential at release, it was later abandoned and shut down. On the other hand, the developers originally working on the Splinter Cell revival left Ubisoft and began working on the game that many now know as Dispatch.
As fate would have it, former Ubisoft developers released two very popular games in 2025. Both Dispatch and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have garnered a lot of praise this year, while Ubisoft continues to struggle in the face of potential bankruptcy and declining share prices.
As for the current state of Splinter Cell, the remake seems to be going through turmoil at the moment. Recent job listings suggested that the project was in need of a new director last month, hinting at potential disruptions during development.
Still, Ubisoft has recently attempted to rejuvenate interest in the IP with a Netflix anime adaptation.
What do you make of a potential Splinter Cell revival from Ubisoft? Do you think the studio made the wrong choice? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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