Former executive producer Mark Rubin has responded to recent speculation about Splinter Cell's development, firmly denying assertions that his studio was actively working on the stealth franchise. Despite persistent fan demands for a new Splinter Cell installment over recent years, Ubisoft has consistently shifted focus elsewhere, though recent revelations suggest fans might have been closer to a new game than previously understood.

During a recent Bloomberg interview, AdHoc Studio Co-Founder Nick Herman disclosed that before establishing his current studio, he and several former Telltale Games developers were employed at Ubisoft's San Francisco location. Herman indicated the team was developing what he described as a new Splinter Cell project, though Ubisoft's growing emphasis on Games-as-a-Service (GaaS) titles ultimately redirected the project toward what would evolve into the online shooter XDefiant. This revelation captured significant attention, including that of the studio's former executive producer, who presented an alternative account of these events.

In response to circulating rumors about the alleged Splinter Cell transition, former XDefiant executive producer Mark Rubin utilized social media platforms to share his perspective on the matter. Rubin directly contradicted the reported narrative, asserting that his team was never developing a new Splinter Cell project. Instead, he clarified they were working on an ambitious game concept that ultimately failed to deliver engaging gameplay during that development phase. Rubin explained that following the project's cancellation, the team received freedom to propose new concepts, which eventually led to the creation of the online arena shooter that became XDefiant.

Rubin acknowledged the possibility that Nick Herman and his group might have considered developing or pitching a Splinter Cell concept before Rubin's involvement with the studio. However, he emphasized that during his tenure at Ubisoft San Francisco, no such project was officially in development at the studio. Rubin also reflected on his collaborative experience with Ubisoft leadership, praising their openness to studio proposals while expressing regret that XDefiant hadn't utilized an external game engine to minimize technical complications and performance issues.

Regardless of the conflicting accounts, neither development path ultimately materialized into a new Splinter Cell title. Herman proceeded to establish AdHoc Studio, where the team achieved significant success with their title Dispatch. Meanwhile, Rubin's team experienced temporary success with XDefiant during its initial months before encountering developmental challenges that ultimately led to the game's discontinued development and eventual shutdown.

For dedicated Splinter Cell enthusiasts, the franchise appears to have returned to developmental uncertainty. Since the release of Splinter Cell Blacklist, the series has seen minimal progress. Protagonist Sam Fisher has made numerous cameo appearances across other Ubisoft properties, including Rainbow Six Siege, and featured in a positively received Netflix animated adaptation. However, the announced Splinter Cell remake has encountered substantial development obstacles since its 2021 revelation, experiencing multiple director departures and maintaining relative silence regarding substantive development updates.

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