Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is a series of action-adventure stealth games and books that were supported by Tom Clancy. The first game was released in 2002. The series follows Sam Fisher, a highly trained agent working for a fictional secret unit within the NSA called "Third Echelon." He faces challenges and overcomes his enemies. The games use light and darkness as important parts of how players interact with the game.

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). A 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 remake of the first game is currently being developed. Nine books that go with the games have been published. An eight-episode audio drama called Splinter Cell: Firewall began in December 2022, and an animated series called Splinter Cell: Deathwatch started on Netflix in October 2025.

The series has been well received and was once one of Ubisoft's most important projects. 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. It was first released for the Xbox by Microsoft Game Studios 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 added multiplayer gameplay to the series. In single-player mode, the game's AI adjusts to 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. Fisher gains new abilities, such as SWAT turns and whistling to draw enemy attention. The game also introduced a new online mode called "spies versus mercenaries," where one team plays from a third-person perspective and the other from a first-person perspective.

Ubisoft Montreal and Ubisoft Milan created the third game, Chaos Theory. It added a cooperative multiplayer mode. Originally planned for release in Fall 2004, it 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 games, with criticism about its controls and multiplayer mode.

For the fourth game, Double Agent, two versions were made: one for older consoles and the Wii, and another for Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, and PlayStation 3. The game introduced a "trust system" that presented players with moral choices. It was the first game in the series to include a hub area where Sam could explore and complete objectives 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 for release on November 16, 2007, but missed its deadline. In May 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 evolved since 2008, with improved visuals and gameplay. The release date was pushed back multiple times. A demo was released for Xbox 360 on March 18, 2010. Ubisoft aimed to make the fifth game more accessible, removing stealth features like whistling and hiding bodies. Instead, it focused on "Mark and Execute" and "Last Known Position" mechanics, using a cover system and simple interrogation sequences.

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

Blacklist, the sixth game, was developed by Ubisoft Toronto and released on August 20, 2013. It combined gameplay elements from Chaos Theory and Conviction. Actor Eric Johnson replaced Michael Ironside as Sam Fisher. In the game, Fisher leads a new unit called "Fourth Echelon," which reports directly to the U.S. President. Fourth Echelon works to stop a terror plot called the "Blacklist" and to end operations by Third Echelon. Returning features include a moving "Mark and Execute" system, Fisher's goggles, a new knife called the Karambit, and the ability to perform stealth takedowns through "abduction."

At E3 2017, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said Splinter Cell was still in development, though other projects were taking priority. In May 2019, Ubisoft Creative Director Julian Gerighty claimed a new Splinter Cell game was being made with Ubisoft Montreal. However, Ubisoft later denied this.

In September 2020, Ubisoft announced a virtual reality version of the series for Oculus VR, developed by Red Storm Entertainment. The project was canceled in July 2022. In December 2021, Ubisoft revealed plans to remake the first game. In October 2022, David Grivel, the game's director, left Ubisoft but returned in December 2025 after 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 was on the New York Times bestseller list for three weeks. 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. It was also listed 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 written from Sam Fisher's point of view, and it does not continue the ongoing storylines from earlier books.

The book begins with a ship named 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 spreading nuclear waste to the American West Coast, he learns that a town called Slipstone was attacked with a radiological weapon, killing over 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 book in the series. It was written under the name David

Common elements

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

In the first three games (Splinter Cell, Pandora Tomorrow, Chaos Theory), terrorists plan attacks using information warfare. Sam Fisher, a secret agent for Third Echelon (a hidden part of the NSA), must stop these attacks. 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, begins right after Double Agent. Fisher has left Third Echelon and learns that his daughter, Sarah, did not die in an accident as previously believed. This discovery leads him to investigate alone, uncovering a secret within his old agency.

In the sixth and most recent game, Blacklist, Third Echelon has been shut down by the U.S. President. A new group, Fourth Echelon, is created under Fisher’s leadership. His mission is to stop attacks called "Blacklist" and stop the group called the Engineers behind them. The game explores questions about the morality of war and how far Fisher and his team will go to protect the United States.

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

• Sam Fisher: The main character of the series.
• Irving Lambert: The director 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 challenges. In Conviction, she becomes Fisher’s guide after Lambert’s death and faces conflicts with him over moral choices. In Blacklist, she is the technical officer for Fourth Echelon.
• Sarah Fisher: Sam’s daughter and only family member. She was believed to have died in Double Agent, but Conviction reveals her death was not real.

The stealth gameplay lets Fisher hide in shadows and avoid detection. Guards can be killed using weapons, gadgets, or hand-to-hand combat. However, the best way to progress in the first three games is to stay hidden, choose less obvious paths, and use tricks to avoid guards. The first game only has a single-player mode. Pandora Tomorrow adds a two-player mode where two teams compete. Chaos Theory improves this mode and introduces a cooperative mode, where players work together to complete missions. In cooperative mode, players must solve challenges as a team. The storylines in Chaos Theory and the sixth-generation version of Double Agent match Fisher’s actions in single-player mode, allowing players to use information he gathered or support him in the field.

In Double Agent, Fisher must balance conflicting goals 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. Fisher must avoid being discovered as a spy, such as by not using an NSA gadget, or he will fail immediately.

Conviction uses faster and more intense stealth action than earlier games. It keeps the cooperative multiplayer mode from previous games. Sam Fisher’s weapons are more realistic and can be upgraded with attachments like silencers, sights, or lasers. After completing a hand-to-hand kill, players earn a bonus that lets them mark and quickly eliminate multiple targets in slow motion. In interrogation scenes, players press a button to make Fisher force a target to reveal information. If near objects like a television or table, Fisher can use them to change the animation.

Blacklist combines gameplay styles from all previous games into a system based on points. Players earn points for three styles:
– Ghost: Complete missions without killing anyone or being seen.
– Panther: Use stealth to kill enemies.
– Assault: Fight loudly with explosions and gunfire.
Points can be used to buy weapons and gear that match each style. The game keeps the execution system from Conviction but allows players to mark up to three targets, no matter what weapon is used.

Development and history

Although the series includes Tom Clancy's name, he was not involved in creating any of the games. According to Mathieu Ferland, the series producer, the first game was made to show Ubisoft's Montreal studio's abilities. After games like Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, making a special ops game was the next logical step for games supported by Tom Clancy.

The first game in the series changed the Unreal Engine to allow gameplay that used light and dark. Later games used newer versions of the same engine.

By the time the latest game, Blacklist, was released, the engine had been upgraded to the LEAD engine, a version of the Unreal Engine 2.5 with many changes. In this game, shadows were active on all consoles, not just for looks but to help with stealth gameplay. This required more programming and meant players needed a powerful desktop computer to get the best performance and clarity.

Reception

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

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 drama has eight episodes and follows the story of the novel. It was recorded using binaural audio, a special type of sound that works best when listened to 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, served as an executive producer. 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 made.

The film adaptation of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell was first mentioned as a special feature for Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory as early as 2005. In 2011, Ubisoft announced plans to make film versions of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, and Assassin's Creed. The company stated it wanted to keep control over the films and work with studios to develop the projects. The following year, Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures were reported to be the main companies interested in making a Splinter Cell movie. By November of that year, British actor Tom Hardy was cast as Sam Fisher, and Eric Warren Singer was hired to write the script. In 2013, Ubisoft confirmed that New Regency would produce the film, with Basil Iwanyk as a producer through his company, Thunder Road Films.

In March 2014, Doug Liman joined the production as director, with Jean-Julien Baronnet and David Bartis as producers. Later that month, Sheldon Turner was added to the team to rewrite the script. Hardy told an interviewer that filming was expected to begin in August 2014. By June 2014, Liman said he and Hardy were working on the script, which would focus on a younger version of Sam Fisher, unlike the older spy portrayal in the video games. In October 2014, Iwanyk stated filming would begin in early 2015.

In April 2015, Liman left the project, and reports said the studio was considering Joseph Kahn 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 for review. The producer explained the film would have a unique style within the action genre and aim for an "edgy" PG-13 rating. However, on November 15, 2024, it was announced the film had been canceled due to challenges in meeting the desired standards for the script and budget.