Ubisoft packs nearly every Splinter Cell mechanic into Assassin’s Creed Shadows but still won’t make another game in the original franchise.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is one of those rare titles whose very existence was cursed right from its inception. Despite Ubisoft’s latest attempts at balancing its RPG mechanics with the social stealth of old times, the game remains polarizing amongst the community for a myriad of reasons.

Naoe infiltrating a fortress in Assassins’ Creed Shadows – Image Credit: Ubisoft Quebec.

Yet, from the recent Gameplay Overview shared in my review, one element of this game feels eerily reminiscent of another long-neglected franchise: Splinter Cell. Does Ubisoft want people to consider Shadows a worthy replacement for Sam Fisher’s series, or is it just a simple reminder of what once was?

The Stealth Mechanics of Assassin’s Creed Shadows Feels Too Similar to Splinter Cell

Yasuke in Assassin’s Creed Shadows – Image Credit: Ubisoft Quebec.

The gameplay demo and the recent overview shared by Ubisoft for this game spend considerable time pointing out the enhancements made to the franchise’s stealth mechanics, specifically through the game’s “less controversial” character, Naoe.

That said, from the ability to put the lights out around you and conceal yourself in the shadows, to the creative new ways to take down enemies, all of it feels eerily similar to what Sam Fisher might do.

For instance, remember those small pockets of darkness in the old Splinter Cell, which you could further expand by shooting out the lights? Well, that’s here now, in Shadows, and we don’t know whether we should applaud Ubisoft for this or call them lazy for making this look like an innovation.

Now, while these mechanics might scratch the good old itch to embody Fisher again for some, what we see a lot more glaringly is Ubisoft’s hesitation to revive its other iconic franchise once more.

It’s bad enough already that the announced remake of Splinter Cell seems stuck in development hell at the moment, and this, more than anything, feels like rubbing salt in the wounds.

That said, though Shadows may borrow Splinter Cell’s DNA, it can’t, at the end of the day, replicate the latter series’ heart. For our money, no amount of Samurai Shinobi extravaganza can ever truly replace the iconic agent​. Hopefully, the man’s happy in gaming heaven with his best pal, Solid Snake.

With All Its New Mechanics, Can Assassin’s Creed Shadows Overcome Its Controversies?

Naoe analyzing a fortress in Assassins’ Creed Shadows – Image Credit: Ubisoft Quebec.

Circling back to our history-faring series, Shadows boasts a lot more features beyond stealth too. For starters, we already know that the dual protagonists, similar to Syndicate, are going to offer wildly different styles to approach a situation.

Then, there’s also the Observe mechanic, likely added to compensate for Yasuke’s supposed lack of Eagle Vision. It delivers “a fast and easy way to toggle additional information on screen.”

Interestingly, Yasuke will also come equipped with a bow and arrow, which, while Ubisoft takes a stretch and calls it his own way to stealthily do things, is a pretty neat feature for the brute Samurai.

Early previews of the game also suggest that we’re in for a more tactile experience, one that will still emphasize strategy over brute force. But will these mechanics be enough to salvage the game’s rocky reputation?

Assassin’s Creed Shadows has already faced an uphill battle from the moment its first trailer arrived. First, it was stuck in cultural backlash for a myriad of reasons. Then, it was delayed to 2025 amid rumors of internal disagreements over its readiness. More recently, it has faced countless rumors of aggressive monetization.

When you put all that into perspective, it’s no wonder people are doubting Shadows’ capacity to live up to its promises, assuming it is yet another in Ubisoft’s long list of troubled releases.

But, with all that said, what are your thoughts on Assassin’s Creed Shadows so far? Should Ubisoft pay more attention to Splinter Cell after this title? Let us know in the comments below!