A new Splinter Cell game was in early development at Ubisoft in 2017 but was canceled after executives pushed for live-service elements, eventually evolving into the short-lived free-to-play shooter XDefiant. Former developer Nick Herman shared details in a Bloomberg interview, expressing initial excitement about revitalizing the stealth franchise dormant since 2013's Blacklist. The shift highlights Ubisoft's focus on games-as-a-service during that period.
Development Background
In early 2017, Nick Herman and other former Telltale developers joined Ubisoft San Francisco to work on a sequel to the Splinter Cell series, the last entry being Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist in 2013. Herman, now co-founder of AdHoc Studio, recalled his enthusiasm for the project. "I was so excited to be a part of this and help revitalize it, because it’s been dormant for a while," he told Bloomberg. "And we thought we could tell a great story and do something the fans would love."
The team spent the first six months developing concepts for a tactical stealth game, but Ubisoft's growing emphasis on live-service titles like Rainbow Six Siege and The Division 2 changed priorities. Executives mandated that all in-development projects incorporate ongoing updates and monetization, disrupting the Splinter Cell vision.
Shift to XDefiant
After a few months, Ubisoft lost interest in the narrative-focused Splinter Cell and pivoted to a multiplayer shooter to compete with Call of Duty. This became XDefiant, directed by former Call of Duty executive Mark Rubin. Developers attempted to blend narrative elements into a games-as-a-service model, creating "a lot of cool prototypes," Herman noted. However, XDefiant launched as a free-to-play FPS and was shut down after about a year, leading to layoffs.
"It was exciting to go to work for the first six months because we thought we were going to be able to make something really great," Herman reflected. "And then you realize that all of the things you care about, they don’t anymore. It’s a common thing in games."
Ongoing Splinter Cell Projects
Ubisoft has not abandoned the franchise entirely. A remake of the original Splinter Cell is in development at Ubisoft Toronto, announced in 2021. Additionally, the animated series Splinter Cell: Deathwatch debuted on Netflix in October 2025 and has been renewed for a second season, though a planned live-action movie is no longer in production.