‘Splinter Cell’ trademark is being updated after leak says a new open world game is in development

"Splinter Cell" is one of the popular video game franchises based on Tom Clancy's works, and it has been making headlines in recent weeks. After a report claiming that a new title is in development, Ubisoft was found to be updating its trademark claim for the title.

The Justia Trademarks website reveals that Ubisoft filed a new application last Dec. 6 to update the "Splinter Cell" trademark. The application was filed under International Class 041, while goods and services to which the trademark will be used are described as: "Entertainment services, namely, providing an on-line computer game for others over global and local area computer networks."

It is not strange for companies like Ubisoft to update trademarks after some time. The recent filing also does not provide solid indications that a new "Splinter Cell" game is close to announcement or release. But the timing of the application's discovery makes it more interesting since notable leaker Tom Henderson just reported last week that a new "Splinter Cell" title is in development.

Henderson said on Twitter last week that Ubisoft is in the early stages of development of a new "Splinter Cell" game. Details about its title, setting, and gameplay are scarce, though. The same source added that the game is planned to feature more stealthy moves that would make it a "more stealthy version of 'Assassin's Creed.'"

Sources of Henderson also described the upcoming "Splinter Cell" as an open world game, and compared it to how 343 Industries designed "Halo Infinite." While the new first-party Xbox game does feature more open environments than previous "Halo" titles, its developers have been careful not to have the game categorized as an open world title.

"Like Paul [Crocker, associate creative director] said, it's not open-world. One of the things that we wanted to avoid was the grindy nature that can come with most open-world games, where you're going incessantly hunting enemies to level up and upgrade your character," "Halo Infinite" character director Steve Dyck said during an interview with VGC. It is still unclear how that would translate to Ubisoft's rumored "Splinter Cell" game in the works.