Splinter Cell Remake Reportedly Delayed to 2027 as Ubisoft Brings Back Original Director

 If you have been waiting for Ubisoft's Splinter Cell Remake, it sounds like the wait may be a little longer than originally expected. There's been a leak that the long-awaited remake has gone through several internal delays and is now reportedly targeting a 2027 release. Based on the current lineup, Ubisoft's next major release is expected to be the Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake, followed by the next mainline Ghost Recon game.

If those plans remain unchanged, Splinter Cell would arrive after both projects, placing it further down the publisher's roadmap. The remake was first announced in December 2021, but it hasn’t been easy. Over the past few years, Ubisoft has undergone major strategic shifts, including a period when it focused heavily on live-service games.

Reports have suggested that Ubisoft at one point explored bringing games-as-a-service elements into the new Splinter Cell project. That direction reportedly created friction during development, but the team eventually abandoned it. The concept later evolved into XDefiant, which has since been shut down. This shift left parts of the original development plans uncertain.

It also reflected how Ubisoft was experimenting heavily with live-service ideas during that period. Another challenge came from leadership changes. In 2022, the original game director, David Grivel, left Ubisoft after more than a decade with the company. His departure left the remake without its director, only months after the project had been publicly revealed. This created immediate uncertainty for the project’s future direction.

The game director would be responsible for shaping the moment-to-moment gameplay experience, including how gadgets function, how enemy AI reacts when something seems suspicious, how the camera feels during movement, and even how much noise Sam Fisher creates while taking down enemies. The goal was to create a polished stealth experience that rewards skill and mastery while remaining approachable for players.

Understandably, these developments raised concerns, as the public has kept the remake largely out of sight. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a big gameplay reveal or a major trailer, and many fans are wondering how development has been going. This silence has only made the uncertainty feel more noticeable over time.

Uncertainty is only added by reports describing the project as turbulent, and the fact that Ubisoft is looking for a new director.

Even Ubisoft itself has been undergoing many changes. The company’s recent moves, including a deal with Tencent, have led to wider structural changes, with leadership shifts affecting several high-profile projects. There have even been some reports of certain changes in key leadership roles in the Assassin’s Creed franchise recently. But there have been positive signs. Tom Henderson says the Splinter Cell remake looks wonderful based on footage he saw in 2025.

That’s no guarantee of a smooth launch, but it does imply some meaningful behind-the-scenes progress. It also implies that the project is further along than some fans might have expected at this stage. There is another issue too, which could have an impact on development going forward. Ubisoft recently closed Red Storm Entertainment's gaming division, laying off more than 100 employees.

The studio was said to have been supporting around 10 Ubisoft projects, including the Splinter Cell remake and the next Ghost Recon entry. Red Storm was primarily a support studio, but the departure of so many developers would still be felt. If a team working on multiple projects suddenly disappears, it will likely cause delays, especially for games already facing development problems. Such disruption can also lead other teams to take on additional work unexpectedly.

That uncertainty has made some fans wary of getting too excited. Recent history at Ubisoft has shown how unpredictable game development can be. Major setbacks can occur even in projects that seem close to release, and some players are wary of making assumptions until Ubisoft officially shares more information about the remake's status.

The biggest positive development, however, may be the return of David Grivel. 

According to Insider Gaming, Grivel recently announced on LinkedIn that he is rejoining Ubisoft Toronto as game director for the Splinter Cell remake. For many fans, that news represents one of the strongest signs yet that Ubisoft is committed to finishing the project. His return also brings back leadership that understands the project from its early stages. The remake originally entered development under the codename North and is reportedly being built using Ubisoft's Snowdrop Engine.

Earlier reports pointed toward a tentative 2026 launch window, but those plans now appear to have shifted internally, with 2027 becoming the more likely target. Insider Gaming also reported receiving footage from the project in early 2025. According to those reports, the footage featured a cinematic sequence involving Irving Lambert and Sam Fisher, offering one of the few glimpses anyone outside Ubisoft has had of the remake. This gives you a rare early look at the project's tone and direction.

What you can expect is not a simple visual upgrade. The project is reportedly being rebuilt from scratch for modern platforms and modern audiences. Rather than applying updated graphics to the original game, Ubisoft is reportedly redesigning the experience as a full remake while preserving the core identity that made the series popular in the first place.

The game is currently expected to launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Grivel's return has also fueled speculation about what could happen after the remake releases. If the project performs well, Ubisoft would already have many of the systems, technology, assets, and gameplay foundations needed to remake later entries in the franchise. That could make future remakes of Splinter Cell 2, Chaos Theory, Double Agent, or even Blacklist much easier to develop compared to starting entirely from scratch.

Outside of gaming, Splinter Cell has remained active through animated projects and crossover appearances. Sam Fisher has continued to appear in Ubisoft titles, most notably in Ghost Recon Breakpoint, where he was a playable character with his own storyline and missions.

Because of that history, there is also speculation that Ubisoft could once again use Ghost Recon to cross-promote Splinter Cell. With a new Ghost Recon reportedly in development, another appearance by Sam Fisher would not be surprising, especially if Ubisoft wants to build anticipation ahead of the remake's eventual launch.

For now, though, the focus remains on getting the Splinter Cell remake across the finish line. Development has clearly faced its share of obstacles, from leadership changes and internal delays to studio closures and broader company restructuring. Even so, reports suggesting the game is progressing well, combined with the return of its original director, have given the project a significant boost.