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When Ubisoft finally brings Sam Fisher back after years of silence, one thing is clear: the next Splinter Cell needs to feel special. It can't simply be another open-world checklist game or a stealth title filled with endless markers and busywork. If Ubisoft truly wants to revive the franchise, there may be no better studio to look at than IO Interactive.
Yes, the creators of Hitman.
Over the last decade, IO Interactive has quietly become one of the industry's masters of stealth game design. While many studios abandoned stealth-focused experiences in favor of action-heavy gameplay, IO doubled down on player freedom, level design, and creativity. The World of Assassination trilogy transformed Hitman from a struggling franchise into one of gaming's most respected stealth series.
And in many ways, the lessons learned from Hitman are exactly what Splinter Cell needs.
Stealth Is Finally Cool Again
For years, publishers seemed convinced that pure stealth games couldn't sell. Franchises either disappeared or shifted toward action. Splinter Cell was put on ice. Metal Gear went dormant after Hideo Kojima's departure from Konami. Even Assassin's Creed moved away from stealth roots toward RPG systems.
But the market has changed.
Games like Hitman, A Plague Tale, Shadow Tactics, and even sections of titles such as The Last of Us have proven that players still enjoy sneaking through environments and solving problems without firing a shot.
The success of IO's Hitman trilogy showed that stealth doesn't need to be niche. It simply needs to be designed well.
The Perfect Balance Between Old and New
Classic Splinter Cell was built around tension.
Players carefully watched patrol routes, studied lighting, and used gadgets strategically. Every room felt like a puzzle.
The challenge facing Ubisoft today is finding a way to modernize that formula without losing what made it special.
That's where IO Interactive excels.
Hitman's levels feel like giant sandboxes, but they never lose focus. Players are given freedom while still being encouraged to think like professionals.
Instead of simply moving from objective marker to objective marker, players could infiltrate massive facilities with multiple entry points, security systems, and opportunities for creative problem solving.
That sounds a lot more exciting than another generic action game.
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They Understand Espionage
One reason 007 First Light has generated so much excitement is because people trust IO Interactive with spy fiction.
The studio understands how to create worlds filled with secrets, surveillance, disguises, and high-stakes operations.
James Bond and Sam Fisher are different characters, but they exist in the same general space of espionage thrillers.
If IO can build a compelling Bond game, it's hard not to imagine what they could do with the darker, more grounded world of Third Echelon.
Ubisoft Could Learn From Hitman
Perhaps the biggest argument for IO Interactive isn't technology or graphics.
It's philosophy.
Modern Ubisoft games often struggle with excess. Massive maps, hundreds of icons, endless side activities.
Hitman succeeds because it does the opposite.
Each mission is carefully crafted. Every NPC serves a purpose. Every route feels intentional.
A modern Splinter Cell doesn't need to be bigger.
The Dream Collaboration
Of course, Ubisoft is already developing its own Splinter Cell remake, and there is no indication that IO Interactive will ever touch the franchise.
But it's fun to imagine.
In an era where stealth games are increasingly rare, few studios have demonstrated a better understanding of the genre than IO Interactive. If Sam Fisher is going to make a full return someday, the team behind Hitman might be uniquely qualified to guide him.
After all, if there's one studio that still understands the thrill of being the smartest person in the room, it's IO Interactive.
-Foures
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