Déjà Vu: Splinter Cell Remake Loses Its Director… Again
For fans eagerly awaiting the return of stealth icon Sam Fisher, the news around the Splinter Cell remake has been a rollercoaster. Unfortunately, we just hit another stomach-lurching drop. A recently deleted job listing from Ubisoft Toronto suggests the project has lost its game director, sparking fresh concerns about its troubled development.
This isn’t the first time the director’s chair has been left empty. The project has been in a state of flux since its announcement back in 2021, and this latest development only adds to the uncertainty.
A Troubling Pattern Emerges
This is the second time the Splinter Cell remake has lost its leader. The original game director, David Grivel, a Ubisoft veteran who had worked on titles like Splinter Cell Blacklist and Far Cry, left the company in 2022, less than a year after the remake was announced. His departure was a significant blow, but the project moved forward.
His replacement was reportedly Andy Schmoll, who, according to his LinkedIn profile, appears to have left Ubisoft in September 2025. This was followed by a job listing for a new Game Director at Ubisoft Toronto, which was spotted by the publication Tech4Gamers before being taken down. Losing one director is a setback; losing two raises serious questions about what’s happening behind the scenes.
Why This Is a Big Deal
The Game Director is the creative heart of a project. The now-deleted job listing gave us a peek into just how crucial this role is. The director is responsible for the “moment-to-moment gameplay,” defining everything from how gadgets work to how enemies react when they spot something. They are the one who ensures all the elements-lighting, sound, camera feel, enemy AI-come together to create that polished, hardcore stealth experience fans are expecting.
When a leader at this level leaves mid-project, it can lead to significant delays and changes in creative vision. It’s a clear sign that the development path isn’t a smooth one.
Is the Remake Still Happening?
Despite the bad news, there’s a silver lining: the project isn’t dead. The very existence of a job listing, even a deleted one, confirms that Ubisoft is still actively working on the remake at its Toronto studio. Since the game was first revealed, the studio has been almost completely silent, leading many fans to worry it had been quietly canceled, much like the troubled Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake.
We know the game is being rebuilt from the ground up using the Snowdrop engine, the same tech behind games like The Division and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Reports have also suggested the team is rewriting the original story for a modern audience. The search for a new director shows commitment, but it also means the finish line is likely much further away than anyone had hoped.
Conclusion
The Splinter Cell remake is clearly going through a difficult development phase. Losing a second director is a major red flag that can’t be ignored. While it’s reassuring to know the game hasn’t been canceled, this news likely means a longer wait for Sam Fisher’s return. Fans have been patient for years, and it looks like that patience will be tested a while longer. All we can do is hope that Ubisoft finds the right leader to finally guide this highly anticipated project to a successful launch.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Has the Splinter Cell Remake been officially canceled?
No, it has not been canceled. The fact that Ubisoft was recently hiring a new game director for the project indicates that it is still in active development.
2. How many game directors have left the project?
Two game directors have now left the Splinter Cell remake. The original director, David Grivel, left in 2022, and his replacement reportedly departed in September 2025.
3. Which studio is developing the Splinter Cell Remake?
Ubisoft Toronto is leading the development of the remake. The studio is rebuilding the game from the ground up.
4. Why is losing a game director a problem for development?
The game director holds the core creative vision for the game. Losing one, let alone two, can cause major delays, creative shifts, and instability within the development team.
5. Have there been any official updates from Ubisoft?
Ubisoft has been extremely quiet about the project since its announcement in 2021. The main signs of life have been a cryptic tweet and, now, the news of a director change, which came from a job listing rather than an official announcement.
6. What game engine is the remake using?
The Splinter Cell remake is being built on Ubisoft’s Snowdrop engine, which has powered other major titles like The Division and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.