Splinter Cell

How do we live in a timeline with hyper advanced ray-tracing graphics technology and no new Splinter Cell game? For that matter, how is that the case and we don’t have a major AAA stealth title that takes advantage of this tech? Or just one that exists period? (Sorry, I don’t count Hitman. Cry about it).

What little I had of a happy childhood was often spent between Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell. I came to MGS for the great gameplay and mind-bending story. But Splinter Cell was the more sophisticated stealth experience that got better with each game (until around Double Agent where things got kinda meh). Light, sound, precision movement through hostile territory, and, of course, impressive graphics that weren’t just flashy ways to show off your hardware, but were actually dynamic parts of the stealth action.

Gaming tech has only gotten more sophisticated since the last Splinter Cell games. I usually don’t beg for bleeding edge tech, but a new Splinter Cell (which apparently, maybe, might, sorta happen—and god help Ubisoft if Michael Ironside isn’t voicing Sam again), would have me salivating over how advanced lighting and rendering techniques could make the game look and feel amazing to play. — Claire Jackson