XDefiant Originally a Splinter Cell Title, Report Says

Not long ago, Ubisoft was actively developing a brand-new Splinter Cell game. However, according to a recent report, that project gradually evolved into what we now know as XDefiant.

This information comes from a Bloomberg feature on AdHoc Studio, the team behind the workplace superhero comedy game Dispatch. The article traces the studio's journey from Telltale Games to Ubisoft and finally to independence. AdHoc's leadership first collaborated at Telltale Games on Tales from the Borderlands. In 2017, Nick Herman, Dennis Lenart, and Pierre Shorette left Telltale to join Ubisoft, where the trio began work on a new installment in the Splinter Cell series.

“I was thrilled to be involved and to help bring the franchise back to life after such a long hiatus,” Herman told Bloomberg. “We believed we could craft a compelling story and deliver something the fans would truly appreciate.”

However, they explained that Ubisoft was increasingly emphasizing games-as-a-service models across its portfolio, and the vision for Splinter Cell didn't align with that direction. Over time, the Splinter Cell project was repurposed into XDefiant. This free-to-play first-person shooter launched to mixed reviews last year and was shut down in June, a closure that impacted two entire studios.

In 2018, the three developers reunited with former Telltale colleague Michael Choung to found AdHoc Studio. While prototyping what would become Dispatch, they also accepted a co-development writing role on The Wolf Among Us 2. They ultimately left that project after completing an 800-page script, citing frustrations over a lack of creative control. The fate of that game has since appeared uncertain.

Ultimately, the team completed the final version of Dispatch with publisher support and a cast of notable actors, aided by casting director Linda Lamontagne. A last-minute publishing deal with Critical Role for a separate title provided the final push needed to finish development.

As for Splinter Cell, fans are still waiting for a new mainline entry, with the last being 2013's Blacklist. A remake of the original 2002 game has been announced, but Ubisoft has shared little news since 2022, leaving its future unclear.

Dispatch, on the other hand, is excellent. We are preparing a review-in-progress as each episode releases. For now, you can read our impressions of the first two episodes here, where our reviewer described being "totally enthralled in this world and eager to delve deeper into Robert’s complicated personal life."