Dispatch Developers Reflect on Lost Splinter Cell Project

LOS ANGELES, CA — The team behind the superhero narrative game Dispatch recently shared insights about their journey. Founders of AdHoc Studio, Nick Herman, Dennis Lenart, and Pierre Shorette, originally worked on a new Splinter Cell game at Ubisoft before its direction shifted under management’s vision.

After joining Ubisoft in 2017, the developers aimed to revitalize the Splinter Cell franchise. Herman expressed his excitement, stating, “I was so excited to be a part of this and help revitalize it, because it’s been dormant for a while.” However, plans changed when Ubisoft prioritized a games-as-a-service model instead of a story-driven approach.

As reported by Bloomberg, the developers attempted to adapt to this new vision while trying to keep their storytelling roots intact. “Let’s make a narrative GAAS game,” Herman reflected on the pivot. Despite their efforts, Ubisoft ultimately lost interest in the Splinter Cell project, redirecting resources to chase the success of other franchises like Call of Duty.

The Splinter Cell concept eventually transformed into xDefiant, a game that spent years in development before launching in 2024. Herman noted the initial excitement of working on a project they believed in, but eventually lost hope as the team recognized their creative vision was not aligned with management’s priorities.

By 2018, Herman and his team left Ubisoft to create AdHoc Studio, where their recent release, Dispatch, has garnered significant attention. “It seems there really was an audience willing to pay for a good single-player experience,” he stated. Dispatch has become a surprise hit, highlighting the demand for narrative-driven gaming experiences.

Herman concluded, “The community’s response has been overwhelming, and it reinforces our belief in storytelling. It’s nice to create something that resonates with so many people.” With Dispatch’s success, future installments may be on the horizon as they explore new possibilities together.