A new job posting found on the Ubisoft website states that the company is on the lookout for a scriptwriter who will rewrite the story of Splinter Cell for “modern-day audiences.” The job posting suggests that the game may have several changes to the story to make it fit the current times. The same listing indicates that the upcoming game will keep “the spirit and themes of the original game while exploring our characters and the world to make them more authentic and believable.” The scriptwriter will join “the Narrative team and help create a cohesive and compelling narrative experience for a new audience of Splinter Cell fans.” It will be interesting to see how the hired individual will adapt the 20-year-old franchise to modern times.
Mixed reactions to “modern” Splinter Cell
Fans of the franchise have mixed reactions to the news that Ubisoft is updating the story. Some have pointed out that the developers are mixing up the terms “remake” and “reboot”. A remake would be a faithful recreation of the original, while a reboot can take creative liberties to add to the story. Some fans are worried that the game, which has heavy on the political narrative, will be watered down to be acceptable to new players. There are theories that the game is being rewritten for gamers who have not played the original series or were not even born at the time the first game came out. No matter how Ubisoft intends to execute the additions to the story, there will be some part of the audience that will be dissatisfied with the end product. What matters is whether the game will be a fitting title to add to the Splinter Cell franchise.
How to update Splinter Cell for modern audiences
Plenty has changed since the original Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell came out in 2002. Splinter Cell’s producer Matt West stated that while the spirit of the early game remains intact, the game will be updated visually and add some elements to match the “comfort and expectations” of current players. West has indicated that the plan is for the remake to be linear like the original and not delve into the open-world genre like newer games often do. West remarks that “every square inch is part of a choice, or directly offers a choice, or has a direct ramification. That density of gameplay is at the forefront in Splinter Cell, and that’s going to be really, really important for us.” Even though the new Splinter Cell will keep the core gameplay intact, it will benefit from the new Snowdrop engine. This new in-game engine currently powers Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, The Division, as well as an upcoming Star Wars title. If nothing else, we can expect the Splinter Cell reboot to look pretty awesome.
