Ubisoft Confirms Splinter Cell: Deathwatch Series Is Canon

On October 14, Sam Fisher will come out of retirement in a new animated Netflix series based on the cult Splinter Cell franchise.

Ubisoft has officially confirmed that the upcoming animated series Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, arriving on Netflix, is being treated as part of the main game canon. Despite the medium and a few creative adaptations, the project was developed as a direct continuation of the original narrative.

Which specific changes were made to adapt the story for a television format have not been disclosed. Company spokespeople say the alterations are minor and do not affect the central plot. Showrunner Derek Kolstad has echoed that position, pledging to “preserve the brains and the heart, entertain the soul, and do everything possible” to avoid disappointing long-time fans of the series.

Splinter Cell: Deathwatch will premiere on Netflix on October 14 and follows an older Sam Fisher who is compelled to return to active duty. The narrative picks up from the aftermath of Chaos Theory — in particular, the assassination of Douglas Shetland. At the heart of the conflict is his grown daughter, Diana Shetland, who now heads a new organization called “Xanadu,” sparking a fresh international crisis.

Source: iXBT.games