August 20, 2013. That was the release date for the last Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell title, known as Blacklist. Fans of the well-loved series of stealth-based special ops games were sad to see the franchise go, and some of us have been pining for the days of stepping into Sam Fisher’s shoes.

So, when Ubisoft’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands did a broad Splinter Cell-themed Special Operations I update (including having Michael Ironside back for the voice work), fans were understandably intrigued and excited.

Here’s how the Sam Fisher thing plays out: Players will need to complete the update’s new PvE mission, at which point they’ll be treated to a cutscene. In the scene, our old buddy Sam Fisher is seen chatting with the Ghosts’ handler, Karen Bowman. However, there’s a certain familiarity to the chat, and Sam refers to Karen as “Linda”. Karen then makes mention that Sam’s teammate “Grim” (Anna Grimsdottir) sent word that the “Chairman of the Joint Chiefs says there’s a possible empty quiver”. This is not good for the team, as an “empty quiver” refers to the loss of a nuclear weapon. However, this is exactly the sort of thing that a SIGINT operative like Sam Fisher would take on. Bowman tells Sam that she can get him transportation, to which Fisher responds, “A guy once said, ‘The price of success is hard work and dedication’”. Following this statement, Fisher seems to be prepping to leave for a mission. This, dear readers, could potentially serve as a perfect set-up for a new Splinter Cell title.

Here’s the thing, though: There’s nothing blatantly stating that this scene is actually a teaser for a new entry into the Splinter Cell franchise. While it’s difficult to do, fans of the series shouldn’t get their hopes up too high, as Ubisoft hasn’t confirmed that they’re working on anything of the sort. That being said, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot did give fans a bit of hope last year, when he did an AMA on Reddit. When asked about the possibility of a new Splinter Cell title, Guillemot responded with, “Splinter Cell is a brand we talk about a lot. It’s also personally one of my favorite series. We don’t have anything specific to share at the moment but teams are working on different things, so stay tuned for more”. So…fingers crossed?

What’s your take on the Sam Fisher cutscene, dear readers? Do you think that Ubisoft might bring back our favorite special operative? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more content!