When Ubisoft said Sam Fisher was a master of stealth, it wasn’t lying; just look at how well-hidden the Splinter Cell Remake was during Ubisoft Forward. By now, I think it is easier to find a needle in a haystack than bits of information about this game. And while many of us are still holding on to hope, that feeling wanes every day. Almost three years after its announcement, there isn’t any relevant news for this remake. While some people claim they know something and have heard a rumor here and there, let’s face it: Sam Fisher isn’t coming any time soon.
When I look at my younger gamer days, I remember Chaos Theory. What a terrific game. Before Ubisoft experimented with social stealth in Assassin’s Creed, it had everything with Splinter Cell. The light and shadow systems, the noise indicator, and the gameplay rewarded patience. It was flawless. And while many argue Conviction and Blacklist strayed from the path, they were still great games. But that was the last we saw of Sam Fisher and friends.
That was until the iconic night vision goggles resurfaced during a Ubisoft Forward, bringing news of a Splinter Cell Remake. We were elated, excited, and ready to load our SC-20K rifle again. So, we waited. Another showcase came, and we saw nothing. We kept waiting and kept seeing games for old and new franchises, but the Four Echelon team was nowhere around. And yet, we thought we’d see a light at the end of Summer Game Fest‘s tunnel, signaling the return of this operative. Yeah, that didn’t happen either.
By now, I don’t know who’s suffering the most: the Beyond Good and Evil 2 fans or the Splinter Cell ones. And yes, some might say Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a stepping stone for modern stealth elements that’ll pave the wave for Sam Fisher’s return. If Ubisoft had said that, I would have believed it and seen it as a lifeline for the legendary franchise. But we didn’t even get that. Still, if there’s one thing I believe is a given in life, it is that competition breeds excellence. With Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater on its way, maybe Ubisoft will make the Splinter Cell Remake a priority. Seeing two stealth legends on the field again would be the best thing ever. I guess dreaming doesn’t hurt.
