Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is a series of action-adventure stealth games, with the first game released in 2002. The series includes tie-in novels that were supported by Tom Clancy. The games follow Sam Fisher, a highly trained agent working for a fictional secret unit within the NSA called "Third Echelon." The player controls Sam Fisher as he completes missions and avoids enemies. The games use light and darkness as important parts of the gameplay.

There have been six main games in the series: Splinter Cell (2002), Pandora Tomorrow (2004), Chaos Theory (2005), Double Agent (2006), Conviction (2010), and Blacklist (2013). Another game called Essentials, which was only available for the PlayStation Portable, was released in 2006. A remastered version of the first three games, called Classic Trilogy HD, was released for the PlayStation 3 in 2011. A new version of the first game is currently being developed. Nine books connected to the series have been published. An eight-episode audio drama titled Splinter Cell: Firewall began in December 2022, and an animated series called Splinter Cell: Deathwatch started on Netflix in October 2025.

The series has received good reviews and was once one of Ubisoft's most important franchises. By 2008, the series had sold 19 million copies, and by 2016, it had sold 32 million copies.

Games

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell was created over two years by Ubisoft Montreal. Microsoft Game Studios first released it for the Xbox as an exclusive game. In 2003, Ubisoft made the game available on Microsoft Windows, Mac, PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Game Boy Advance. The game was inspired by the Metal Gear series and used a modified version of the Unreal Engine 2, which allowed gameplay based on light and darkness.

Pandora Tomorrow was developed by Ubisoft Shanghai and Ubisoft Milan. It introduced multiplayer gameplay to the series. In single-player mode, the game's AI adjusts to match the player's skill level. Unlike earlier games, which focused on information-based threats, Pandora Tomorrow's story centers on biological warfare, where an Indonesian terrorist group plans to spread the smallpox virus. The character Fisher gains new abilities, such as SWAT turns and whistling to draw enemy attention. The game also added a new online mode called "spies versus mercenaries," where one team plays from a third-person view and the other uses a first-person perspective.

Ubisoft Montreal and Ubisoft Milan developed the third game, Chaos Theory. It included a cooperative multiplayer mode. Originally planned for release in Fall 2004, the game was released in March 2005. The Unreal Engine was modified again, this time from version 2.5. New features included a combat knife and more open maps with multiple ways to complete objectives.

Essentials expanded the Splinter Cell series to the PlayStation Portable. Through flashback missions, players learn more about Fisher's past. The game received less positive reviews than earlier versions, with criticism about its controls and multiplayer mode.

For the fourth game, Double Agent, two versions were made: one for sixth-generation consoles and the Wii, and another for Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, and PlayStation 3. The game introduced a "trust system" that presents moral choices. It was the first in the series to include a hub area where players could explore between missions. This game also had different endings based on player decisions, though only one ending was considered official.

Conviction was officially announced on May 23, 2007, with a trailer released by Ubisoft. It was scheduled to launch on November 16, 2007, but missed its deadline. On May 19, 2008, Ubisoft said the game was "officially on hold" and would be delayed until the 2009–10 fiscal year. At E3 2009, developers confirmed the game had been redesigned since 2008, with improved gameplay and visuals. The release date was pushed back multiple times. A demo was released for Xbox 360 on March 18, 2010. Ubisoft aimed to make the game more accessible by introducing "Mark and Execute" and "Last Known Position" mechanics, while removing stealth features like whistling and lock-picking. The game used a cover system and added simple interrogation sequences.

In September 2011, a remastered version of the first three games was released for PlayStation 3. These remastered versions were based on the original PC ports. The compilation received "mixed or average" reviews on Metacritic.

Blacklist, the sixth game in the series, was developed by Ubisoft Toronto and released on August 20, 2013. It combined features from Chaos Theory and Conviction. Michael Ironside, who played Sam Fisher in earlier games, was replaced by Eric Johnson. In the game, Fisher leads the "Fourth Echelon," a secret unit working for the U.S. president to stop a terror plot called the "Blacklist." The game included returning features like "Mark and Execute," Fisher's goggles, and a new knife called the Karambit. Players could also perform stealth takedowns called "abductions."

At E3 2017, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said, "I can't say much about that. But, for sure, all the Clancy games are taken care of. It's just we have quite a lot on our plate at the moment…All the Clancy games are really coming along, so we are not forgetting Splinter Cell."

In May 2019, Ubisoft Creative Director Julian Gerighty announced on social media that a Splinter Cell game was in development. He mentioned working with Ubisoft Montreal's Roman Campos-Oriola and executive producer Dan Hay. However, Ubisoft later denied this claim.

On September 16, 2020, it was announced at Facebook Connect that a virtual reality version of the series would be made exclusively for Oculus VR. The game was to be developed by Red Storm Entertainment, but it was canceled on July 21, 2022.

In December 2021, Ubisoft revealed they were working on a remake of the first game. In October 2022, David Grivel, the game's director, left Ubisoft. He returned to the company in December 2025 after briefly working on other projects.

Novels

Splinter Cell is the first book in a series of novels based on the video game series. It was written by Raymond Benson using the name David Michaels. The story follows Sam Fisher as he investigates a terrorist group called "The Shadows" and an arms-dealing organization named "The Shop." Members of "The Shop" use secret information to try to kill members of "Third Echelon," including Fisher. After it was published in December 2004, the book spent three weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. It also appeared on the Wall Street Journal mass-market paperback bestseller list.

Operation Barracuda, released on November 1, 2005, was written by Raymond Benson again using the name David Michaels. The book continued the story from the first Splinter Cell novel and was also featured on the New York Times bestseller list.

Checkmate, published on November 7, 2006, was written by Grant Blackwood using the name David Michaels. Raymond Benson said he was no longer writing Splinter Cell books. Unlike the first two books, Checkmate is not told from Sam Fisher's perspective, and it does not continue the storylines from earlier books.

The book begins with a ship called Trego sailing toward the American East Coast. Sam Fisher is called in from a training mission to stop the ship. After Fisher prevents the ship from releasing nuclear waste onto the American West Coast, he learns that a town named Slipstone was attacked with a radiological weapon, killing more than 5,000 people. These events lead Fisher to travel to Ukraine, Iran, Dubai, and Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

Fallout, published on November 6, 2007, was Grant Blackwood's second Splinter Cell novel and the fourth in the series. Like the previous book, it was written by Grant Blackwood using the name David Michaels. The story follows Sam Fisher as he works to stop Islamic fundamentalists who have taken control of the government in Kyrgyzstan.

Conviction is a novel tied to the game with the same name. It was published on November 3, 2009, and written by Peter Telep using the name David Michaels. The book was published by Berkley Books, part of Penguin Group. The story follows Sam Fisher after the death of Lambert. Fisher goes on the run and is believed to be a traitor. He is pursued by a team of rookie Splinter Cell agents led by Ben Hansen.

Endgame, published on December 1, 2009, is paired with the Conviction novel. The story follows the same events but is told from the perspective of Fisher's enemies, including Ben Hansen and his team.

Published in October 2013, this novel is tied to the video game Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist. It takes place after the events of the game and follows Sam Fisher and Fourth Echelon as they rescue a Russian billionaire who disobeyed orders from the Kremlin to release a computer virus against the United States. The book was written by Peter Telep and is the first in the series not to use the name David Michaels.

Firewall was released on March 1 for Kindle and March 15 for paperback. It was written by James Swallow and features Sam Fisher's daughter, Sarah, working with her father. The story involves Fisher dealing with a cyberwarfare technology called "Gordian Sword," which can bypass any firewall and will be sold to the highest bidder, regardless of their intentions. Fisher must stop the technology from being used or sold to terrorists, criminals, or rogue states. The book won the Scribe Award for Best Original Novel.

Dragonfire was released on January 24 for Kindle and paperback. It was written by James Swallow and features Sam Fisher's daughter, Sarah, working with her father and Isaac Briggs. The story follows Fisher working in North Korea while his daughter searches for him and tries to expose a secret plan by a group called "The Dragons."

Common elements

The first game explains that "Splinter Cell" refers to a special group of spies who work alone. These agents, like Sam Fisher, are supported by a team that uses high-tech tools to help them complete missions.

In the first three games (Splinter Cell, Pandora Tomorrow, Chaos Theory), terrorists plan attacks using information to harm others. Sam Fisher, who works for Third Echelon, a secret part of the NSA, must stop these plans. His missions include gathering information, capturing, or eliminating terrorists.

In the fourth game, Double Agent, Fisher pretends to be a criminal to join a terrorist group.

The fifth game, Conviction, starts right after Double Agent. Fisher leaves Third Echelon after learning that his daughter, Sarah, did not die in an accident as previously believed. He begins searching for those responsible for her death and discovers a secret plan within his old agency.

In the sixth and most recent game, Blacklist, Third Echelon has been shut down by the President of the United States. A new group, Fourth Echelon, is created and placed under Fisher’s leadership. His mission is to stop attacks called "Blacklist" and stop the group called the Engineers behind them. Blacklist explores the choices Fisher and his team make to protect the United States.

The characters and Third Echelon were created by J. T. Petty. Key characters include:

• Sam Fisher: The main character in all the games.
• Irving Lambert: The leader of Third Echelon, who guides Fisher through missions until he is killed by Sam in Double Agent.
• Anna "Grim" Grímsdóttir: A hacker and analyst for Third Echelon who helps Fisher with technical problems. In Conviction, she becomes the guide after Lambert’s death and later has disagreements with Fisher about ethics. In Blacklist, she is the technical officer for Fourth Echelon.
• Sarah Fisher: Sam’s daughter and only family member. She was thought to have died in Double Agent, but Conviction reveals her death was faked.

The game includes a stealth feature that lets Fisher hide in the dark and avoid detection. Guards can be killed with weapons, gadgets, or hand-to-hand combat. However, the best way to complete the first three games is to stay hidden, choose less obvious paths, and use distractions to avoid guards. The first game only has a single-player mode. Pandora Tomorrow adds a two-player mode where two players team up against two others. Chaos Theory improves this mode and introduces a cooperative mode where players work together, similar to single-player but with challenges that require teamwork. These cooperative storylines in Chaos Theory and the sixth-generation version of Double Agent match the events in the single-player games, allowing players to help Fisher or receive information from him.

In Double Agent, Fisher must follow conflicting orders from his superiors and the terrorists. For example, terrorists might tell him to bomb a ship, while the NSA tells him to stop the bombing. This forces Fisher to balance gaining the terrorists’ trust with completing his mission. If he is caught using an NSA tool, he fails immediately.

Conviction uses faster and more intense stealth gameplay than earlier games. It keeps the cooperative multiplayer mode from the previous games. The weapons Sam Fisher uses are more realistic. Each weapon can be upgraded with attachments like silencers, scopes, or lasers. After defeating an enemy in hand-to-hand combat, the player earns a bonus that lets them mark up to four targets and eliminate them quickly in slow motion. In scenes where Fisher interrogates a target for information, the player only needs to press the "Interrogate" button. If Fisher is near an object like a TV or table, he can use it to change the animation during the scene.

Blacklist combines the gameplay styles from all previous games into a system based on points. Players earn points toward one of three styles:
– Ghost: Requires complete stealth and no enemy deaths.
– Panther: Focuses on stealthy killing.
– Assault: Involves loud fights and using explosives.
Points can be used to buy weapons and gear suited to each style. The game keeps the execution system from Conviction but allows players to mark up to three targets, regardless of the weapon used.

Development and history

Although the series includes Tom Clancy's name, he was not involved in creating any of the games. Mathieu Ferland, the series producer, explained that the first game was made to show the abilities of Ubisoft's Montreal studio. After the release of Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, developing a game focused on special operations became the next logical step for games supported by Tom Clancy's brand.

The first game in the series changed the Unreal Engine to support a gameplay style based on light and dark. Later games used updated versions of the same engine.

By the time the latest game, Blacklist, was released, the engine had been upgraded to the LEAD engine, a heavily modified version of the Unreal Engine 2.5. In this game, active shadows were used on all consoles not just as a visual feature, but to improve gameplay, especially the stealth elements. This required more programming work and meant that a powerful desktop computer was needed to achieve the best visual quality and performance.

Reception

By the end of 2004, the Splinter Cell series had sold 9.6 million units. By October 2005, the series' global sales had exceeded 12.5 million units. By May 2008, the series had sold 19 million units. By 2016, over 32 million units of the series had been sold worldwide.

Other media

A radio drama titled Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Firewall was released on December 2, 2022, by BBC Radio 4 Limelight. It was adapted by Sebastian Baczkiewicz and Paul Cornell from the novel of the same name by James Swallow. The eight-part series follows the story of the novel. The drama was recorded using binaural audio, which is best heard with headphones. The main voice actors include Andonis Anthony as Sam Fisher (replacing Michael Ironside, who previously voiced the character), along with Will Poulter, Daisy Head, Rosalie Craig, Sacha Dhawan, and Nikesh Patel. Other actors in the series include Mihai Arsene, Olga Fedori, Rina Mahoney, Roger Ringrose, Riad Richie, David Hounslow, Tijan Sarr, Tom Kiteley, Joe Belham, Ali Gadema, Lloyd Thomas, and Charis Jardim-Hinds. The series won the Scribe Award for Best Audio Drama.

In late July 2020, Netflix announced plans to create an anime series adaptation of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell through Ubisoft Film & Television. Derek Kolstad, the writer of John Wick, was an executive producer for the series. The animation was created by Sun Creature Studio and Fost. The anime series premiered on Netflix on October 14, 2025. A second season is currently being produced.

The film adaptation of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell was first announced as a special feature for Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory as early as 2005. In 2011, Ubisoft stated that Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, and Assassin's Creed would all receive film adaptations. The company said it wanted to maintain control over the films and collaborate with studios on development, including casting and budgeting. In 2012, Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures were reported to be the leading studios interested in making a Splinter Cell film. By November 2012, British actor Tom Hardy was cast as Sam Fisher, and Eric Warren Singer was hired as the screenwriter.

In 2013, Ubisoft announced that the film would be produced by New Regency, with Basil Iwanyk as a producer through his company, Thunder Road Films. In March 2014, Doug Liman joined as director, and Sheldon Turner was hired to rewrite the script. Hardy said the studio planned to begin filming in August 2014. By June 2014, Liman and Hardy were working on the script, which would focus on a younger version of Sam Fisher. In October 2014, Iwanyk said filming would begin in early 2015.

In April 2015, Liman left the project, and Joseph Kahn was considered as a replacement. By July 2015, Ubisoft hired Frank John Hughes to rewrite the script. In January 2017, Iwanyk confirmed the script was completed and sent to Hardy. The producer said the film would be an "edgy" action movie with a PG-13 rating. However, on November 15, 2024, it was announced that the film was cancelled due to challenges in meeting the desired quality of the script and budget.