Coming from an EDGE interview...

“The thing with Splinter Cell is there some very vocal fans who really love the series and they really love it for certain reasons. There are certain modern expectations of a game and I think that sometimes figuring out how you innovate and modernise and bring something new while still bringing all the nostalgic things that are and dear to fans… finding a balance of innovating while staying true to the roots has been one of the big challenges, but not one driven by management – it’s about wanting to please the fans.” - Ubisoft's Jade Raymond

Why do I have a terrible feeling that this statement means a lot less stealth? That's kind of the heart of the Splinter Cell series.