A former Ubisoft developer has revealed that a previously unannounced Splinter Cell project was cancelled before it ever reached the public. This news about a canceled Splinter Cell game shocked longtime fans who have been waiting for the series to return since the release of Splinter Cell: Blacklist in 2013.
The Canceled Splinter Cell Game: The End of a Long-Awaited Comeback
The canceled Splinter Cell game became yet another lost hope for a proper revival of the iconic franchise. In an interview with Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, Nick Herman—co-founder of AdHoc Studio—shared new details about the project and the events that eventually led him to leave Ubisoft and establish a new studio. Before discussing AdHoc’s formation, Herman opened up about the behind-the-scenes story of the canceled Splinter Cell game.
Herman, along with colleagues Pierre Shorette and Dennis Lenart, joined Ubisoft in 2017 and moved to the San Francisco office, where they were assigned to work on the new Splinter Cell project.
Herman stated: “I was so excited to be a part of this and help revitalize it, because it’s been dormant for a while, And we thought we could tell a great story and do something the fans would love”
However, only a few months into development, Ubisoft began shifting its internal priorities, signaling that the game was unlikely to move forward.
He added: “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, And then you realize that all of the things you care about, they don’t anymore. It’s a common thing in games”
With the project shelved, Herman, Shorette, and Lenart left Ubisoft and founded AdHoc Studio in 2018 alongside Michael Choung, eager to create new projects without the constraints of a large corporate environment.
The cancellation sheds light on the internal challenges that development teams face within major publishers, even when working on flagship franchises. It also leaves fans wondering what the future holds for Splinter Cell and whether Ubisoft will eventually deliver the revival players have been hoping for.
Ubisoft Is Still Developing a Splinter Cell Remake
Despite the project’s cancellation, the Splinter Cell name isn’t gone. Ubisoft has been developing a full remake of the original game, which was initially targeted for release in 2026 according to updates shared at the end of 2024. However, the studio has not released further information about its progress since then.
Recently, Ubisoft announced a strategic partnership with Tencent, established a new company division, and postponed its financial results presentation at the last minute—signs that despite the canceled Splinter Cell project, the publisher remains active and invested in its long-term roadmap.
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