Summary
- Splinter Cell: Blacklist added Steam Achievements in a surprise update nearly 12 years after its launch.
- Ubisoft also removed any achivements related to the game's now-defunct online mode, allowing players to earn 100% completion.
- Many are hoping that Ubisoft will patch out some frustrating bugs in the title.
Splinter Cell: Blacklist has added Steam Achievements as part of a new update, nearly 12 years after its launch on the storefront. Released in August 2013, Splinter Cell: Blacklist was developed by Ubisoft Toronto and is the latest entry in the long-running stealth series.
Splinter Cell is a highly rated franchise that has been a staple of the gaming community for decades, especially among fans of the stealth genre. The series is also one of the most popular brands owned by the French gaming giant Ubisoft. Despite such fanfare, it hasn't received a new mainline game since Splinter Cell: Blacklist, which was yet another well-received title in the series. Over the past decade, the IP has featured in crossovers with other AAA franchises, such as Ghost Recon Wildlands. In a new development, Splinter Cell: Blacklist players were recently and unexpectedly treated to a long-overdue addition to the stealth-action game.
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In a surprise update, Splinter Cell: Blacklist announced the addition of Steam Achievements, a feature coming to the game over a decade after its release. Notably, this feature is retroactively applicable, meaning that those who have already completed the action required for a certain achievement will unlock it immediately. It's important to note that players must launch Splinter Cell: Blacklist at least once to ensure they get these achievements based on their in-game progress so far. In a nod to completionists, Ubisoft devs removed the achievements related to the now-defunct online mode, enabling players to get a 100% completion rate in the game. As a result of this change, a total of 19 achievements were removed from the 2013 title.
Splinter Cell Blacklist Finally Supports Steam Achievements
Even though Blacklist's Steam user rating remains at a remarkable "Mostly Positive," its reviews of late have dipped to a Mixed rating based on feedback from 97 different users. A big chunk of the criticism revolves around stability issues present in the current build of the decade-old game, with many players reporting frequent crashes. Judging by this, it may be preferable for Splinter Cell: Blacklist players if Ubisoft goes ahead and drops an update that fixes such game-breaking issues. While there may not be any concrete reason to think a crucial update for an old game may be in the works, fans may still hope to get one given that Ubisoft has lately shipped unexpected updates for quite a few of its titles released in the distant past.
In the meantime, the work behind Ubisoft's Splinter Cell remake is also reportedly underway. Since being announced in 2021, updates on the remake project have been few and far between. With rumors pointing towards its continued development, it may be fair to expect a sit-rep on the forthcoming Splinter Cell title sooner rather than later.
OpenCritic Reviews
- Released
- August 20, 2013
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Toronto
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- unreal engine 2 & 2.5
- Genre(s)
- Stealth
