The new Splinter Cell ‘could have Hitman-like elements’, it’s claimed

Ubisoft could reportedly take inspiration from IO Interactive’s Hitman franchise for its next Splinter Cell game, it’s been claimed. 

On October 19, VGC reported that according to our sources, Ubisoft has greenlit a new Splinter Cell game. 

And according to GameBeat journalist Jeff Grubb, in the weeks before E3 2021, “Ubisoft had fans play the upcoming Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time Remake and something that had the appearance of a new Splinter Cell prototype.”

He said: “The testers did not spend a lot of time with the possible Splinter Cell game. Ubisoft provided a vertical slice that was just a basic tutorial section. But this version of the game combined familiar Splinter Cell action with elements of the 2016 Hitman reboot.”

While this doesn’t confirm that the game is the same project as VGC reported on, it would further indicate that Ubisoft is keen to return to the world of Splinter Cell. 

It’s not clear which studios are working on the new project, though two people with knowledge of Ubisoft’s plans told VGC that the new Splinter Cell was being led by a studio outside of its traditional Montreal base.

The title is in an early phase of production, the sources said, but there’s a small chance it could be announced next year.

The much-requested sequel will arrive at a time when the company is looking to rebuild its image, following a wave of discrimination and sexual harassment allegations. Employee groups say they are not satisfied with the level of action taken by Ubisoft to change its culture.

Last year, CEO Yves Guillemot said the Splinter Cell series needed to evolve before it could make a comeback.

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A decade later, Ubisoft has finally greenlit a new Splinter Cell, sources claim

A new mainline entry has entered production

“When you create a game, you have to make sure you will come with something that will be different enough from what you did before,” he said.

“The last time we did a Splinter Cell, we had lots of pressure from all the fans actually saying, ‘Don’t change it, don’t do this, don’t do that,’ so some of the teams were more anxious to work on the brand.

“Now there are some things and some people that are now looking at the brand, taking care of the brand,” Guillemot added, “so at one point you will see something, but I can’t say more than that.”