Splinter Cell Remake Aiming for 2026 Release, Development Continues with Snowdrop Engine

In December 2021, Ubisoft announced the return of Sam Fisher in a new Splinter Cell Remake. Developed by the company in its Snowdrop engine that powered some of Ubisoft’s recent titles, like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Star Wars Outlaws—titles which recently underperformed for the company. Although the remake had been rumored to have been canceled, more recent reports tell that Ubisoft is continuing with development.

More About the Splinter Cell Remake

The remake is being developed by Ubisoft Toronto who let the cat out of the bag with an interview and video on the Ubisoft website. However, the company has not provided much communication since that announcement over two years ago. The game which is seemingly codenamed North is reportedly still in development at Massive, Insider Gaming reported, but this time around is built using the Snowdrop Engine which powers The Division and its sequel, compared to earlier games in the series which utilized Unreal Engine 2 and 2.5.

Splinter Cell Remake ‘Still in Very Earliest Stages of Development’ when it was first announced. Much like Square Enix’s approach with Final Fantasy 7, Ubisoft has gone for not just a remaster but a complete remake. It also means the game is being built from the ground up with entirely new graphics so this could delay its release further. Either way, gaps between releases have proven to be considerable with the Final Fantasy 7 remake given part one kicked off in 2020 and looking like the next installment won’t come until 2024.

Given the scale of the changes and Ubisoft’s commitment to ensuring the visuals align with the original, fans eager for a high-fidelity remake might have to wait a bit longer. Some estimates suggest the Splinter Cell Remake could be released in 2026, though there are no guarantees for updates by then, depending on Ubisoft’s focus on other projects.

The development may also be influenced by Ubisoft’s current financial instability, the possibility of the company going private, changes in leadership, and potential layoffs. For now, the status of the Splinter Cell Remake remains uncertain, but we must trust the assurance that the game is still actively in development.

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