By Ubisoft was developing a new Splinter Cell title that was intended to incorporate games-as-a-service before it transitioned to become XDefiant, a title that the publisher discontinued shortly after launch. This information comes from Nick Herman, a developer who contributed to the game before departing to establish AdHoc Studios, the team that recently released the episodic game Dispatch to notable success.
“I was extremely eager to be a part of this and aid in revitalizing it, as it had been inactive for some time,” Herman stated to Bloomberg. “And we believed we could tell a compelling story and create something the fans would appreciate.”
The title had been in production “for a few months,” Bloomberg mentioned, and Herman verified that Ubisoft aimed to include games-as-a-service features.
“We attempted,” Herman remarked. “Let’s create a narrative GAAS game. We were working on making that concept viable, and many impressive prototypes were developed.”
The report indicated that “Ubisoft had lost enthusiasm” for this Splinter Cell project and chose to pursue an initiative that could potentially rival Call of Duty. This evolved into XDefiant, a game overseen by former Call of Duty executive Mark Rubin. The game shut down after a year, leading to developer layoffs.
“We were optimistic that we could create something truly remarkable,” Herman expressed. “Then you come to realize that the aspects you value, they no longer do. It’s a frequent occurrence in the gaming industry.”
While that Splinter Cell title will not see the light of day, a remake of Splinter Cell is currently in development. Beyond games, the Splinter Cell television series Deathwatch premiered in October on Netflix and has already been renewed for a second season. A live-action film was in progress, but it apparently is no longer happening.
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