New Splinter Cell Game Possibly Teased In Sam Fisher's Ghost Recon Wildlands Appearance

It's been nearly five years since the release of the last Splinter Cell game, 2013's Blacklist. That's part of what makes the sudden return of Sam Fisher in Ghost Recon Wildlands--as part of a broader Splinter Cell-themed update--so exciting. And while it's just nice to see Fisher back and Michael Ironside providing his voice, the update may hint at something more.

After completing the update's new PvE mission, you'll get to see a cutscene, which is included in the video above. Fisher chats with the Ghosts' handler, Karen Bowman, whom he apparently knows, referring to her as "Linda." She says that Grim--Fisher's ally, Anna Grimsdottir--sent word that the "Chairman of the Joint Chiefs says there's a possible empty quiver."

This is a military term referencing the loss of a nuclear weapon--just the sort of thing that could serve as the setup for a Splinter Cell game. Bowman says she can get him transportation, and Fisher responds, "A guy once said, 'The price of success is hard work and dedication,'" and then seems to begin preparing to leave.

There's nothing outright stating this is meant as a tease for a new game; maybe Ubisoft is simply trying to explain why he doesn't stick around to continue working with the Ghosts. While you may not want to get your hopes up, any morsel of news about a new Splinter Cell is going to get fans excited.

Ubisoft hasn't confirmed if a new game is in the works, although CEO Yves Guillemot did provide fans with some hope last year. He said, "Splinter Cell is a brand we talk about a lot. It's also personally one of my favorite series. We don't have anything specific to share at the moment but teams are working on different things, so stay tuned for more."

Subsequently, he elaborated on those remarks, saying, "We are receiving lots of sketches and proposals around the brand, and we're going to pick one up. I think you will be able to see something, but you will have to wait for that."

The new Splinter Cell content in Wildlands comes as part of the free Special Operations I update, which is out now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. The mission with Fisher is available indefinitely, although you have a limited time to complete challenges for special gear (including Fisher's goggles).