Journalists who tried out the preview version of Splinter Cell: Blacklist noticed the omission of one controversial scene that was demoed during the E3: a torture scene where Sam Fisher digs a knife slowly into a hostage in order to extract information from him.
Blacklist producer Andrew Wilson explained that he reconsidered the scene’s tone and impact after witnessing audience distaste during the E3 demo.
"Definitely we are not going to see when the game's coming out that there are torture scenes in it," he said. "That scene is not there anymore. I've not really heard anyone say they loved it."
"It wasn't nice to see any negative reaction to something you've thrown your life into."
Another change that was introduced in response to E3’s audience comments is that interrogations are no longer interactive. In Splinter Cell: Conviction, Sam Fisher was able to use weapons and objects in the surrounding environment to "interrogate" his captured enemies. But this is no longer possible in Blacklist; At least, not interactively.
"Tthere will not be interactive torture in Blacklist" explained Ubisoft creative director Maxime Beland. "On Conviction, we called those 'interrogations,' right? And it was kind of, my vision of Conviction was that the player to be in control all the time. We had no camera cuts, I always wanted to make it feel that it was nonstop."
"We're doing certain things with interrogation moments where you won't be in control, but you will be in control of what you do with the guy after. So again, embracing that lethal/nonlethal side."
Splinter Cell: Blacklist is scheduled for release on August 20th, 2013.