With no context, the fact that there continue to be several big-budget video games in circulation based on the works of a single fiction writer is bizarre. We are typically not thought of as a society that reads, but we can’t get enough of the works of Tom Clancy. Even after his death, books and movies depict the characters he made famous. In the world of games, Ubisoft runs with the theme of his novels, making a series of tactically focused franchises that lead up to The Division 2 this year. To celebrate the release of the latest Tom Clancy-style adventure, let’s look back a bit. This is the history of this legendary name when it comes to gaming.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the Tom Clancy story is just how much control Ubisoft has over the branding. The publisher originally licensed out the Clancy name from the author himself, eventually tiring of paying a constant fee. In 2008, Ubisoft outright bought the Tom Clancy name for use in games and other media related to their franchises. This led to more arcadey releases like H.A.W.X. and The Division. It also led to Tom Clancy becoming less and less involved in the virtual worlds depicting his name.
Indeed, there are some players out there that only know the name Tom Clancy because of his work in video games. It’s a symbol of a certain style of game, a certain militaristic playground to jump into. It’s clear that Ubisoft will continue to use Tom Clancy’s name to signify this style of game, especially with the continued success of Rainbow Six Siege and a new Splinter Cell seemingly just over the horizon. The author that birthed these worlds died in October of 2013, but his legacy remains thanks to corporate branding. It[s just another strange tale of the video game industry.
Tom Clancy Franchise Tour
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The Division 2 and the best and worst Tom Clancy franchises
Due to a set of circumstances only possible in our industry, the Tom Clancy name has been all over gaming. It's the first name in tactical shooters and one of Ubisoft's most valuable franchises. However, it's not all sunshine and roses. Here is the history of The Clance in video game form. -
The Hunt for Red October
In the late '80s, one of the prominent genres on home PCs were tense strategy games. Since graphics hadn't evolved as of yet, games, where you played in the theater of the mind, dominated the landscape. What better subject than the tense thrillers of Tom Clancy for these types of experiences? -
The Sum of All Fears
In 1996, Tom Clancy co-founded Red Storm Entertainment after seeing these early successes. Ubisoft subsequently purchased the studio in 2000 after establishing a working relationship with them. Ubisoft then purchased the Tom Clancy name outright for use in video games in 2006. By then, games tying into Clancy's movie successes just weren't enough. -
Rainbow Six
Originally based on one of Clancy's novels, the Rainbow Six series encompasses 17 distinct releases across multiple platforms. Each game features tactical first-person shooting and aspires to be a military simulation. This style peaked with a pair of Vegas titles released on Xbox 360. -
Rainbow Six Siege
After spending several years developing a follow-up to Vegas entittled Patriots, Ubisoft went a different way. Rainbow Six Siege is a multiplayer-focused endeavor with Overwatch-style heroes as its operatives. Although it started off on the wrong foot, constant improvements have made it one of the most popular shooters going. -
Ghost Recon
The second set of Clancy tactical shooters, Ghost Recon differentiates itself with its third-person gameplay and its large outdoor environments. There have been fourteen Ghost Recon releases, ranging from the modern day to the near future. Most recently, Ghost Recon took a turn into the open world with Wildlands. -
Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
A subsection of Ghost Recon, "GRAW" was one of the standout games around the Xbox 360 launch. Combining the tactics the series is known for with then-futuristic technology made for a great combination. Ubisoft would revisit the idea with a direct sequel and Future Soldier in 2012. -
Splinter Cell
Splinter Cell's Sam Fisher might have been in the running as an Xbox mascot back in the good old days. A stealth action series to rival Metal Gear, Sam's adventures are classics, particularly the original trilogy. The latest in the series was Blacklist in 2013, although there have been hints that Sam might drop in again any day now. -
EndWar
Taking Tom Clancy back to full on tactics, 2008's EndWar promoted itself on its voice-operated commands. You could control the entire game with a headset, although some reviewers found that to be difficult to achieve. A sequel started development but never saw the light of day. There was a free-to-play follow-up planned but it was canceled. -
H.A.W.X.
An arcade flying game taking place in the timeline of Advanced Warfighter, H.A.W.X. is a weird fit in the Tom Clancy timeline. Two games were released in 2009 and 2010, both receiving mixed to positive reviews. A seeming stopgap in the industry while Ace Combat slumbered, this is one name we probably won't be seeing again. -
The Division
The latest Tom Clancy joint, The Division takes the gameplay structure of Destiny and brings it down to Earth. Literally. This loot shooter doesn't quite have the tactical gameplay of past titles bearing Mr. Clancy's name, but it does have the squad controls and the storyline that attempts to match his most engaging works of fiction. Well, it doesn't have great storytelling techniques but at least it has the look and feel of a Clancy game.
