Splinter Cell opens Pandora's box

It was the game that single handedly gave you the only real reason to own an Xbox last Christmas and now it's getting a sequel. Ubi Soft have officially announced that work is under way on Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow. Though details are still hazy with regard to platform specifics, according to the press release there will be focus towards online play thought the wording of the final paragraph could certainly be hinting at co-op. Here's the deal:

Sam Fisher Is Back with Exciting New Missions and Online Multiplayer Play Modes

Ubi Soft Entertainment confirms the next Splinter Cell installment: Pandora Tomorrow, the new episode of the critically acclaimed stealth action game.

Ubi Soft, one of the world's leading video game publishers, confirmed today that development has begun on the next Splinter Cell game, subtitled: "Pandora Tomorrow. "

This sequel is being developed as a multiplatform title and is slated for release in the first quarter of 2004. The game will bring back more of the single-player intrigue that made the original game a bestseller. With exciting new action scenes and a strong cinematic feel, the player will experience new and even more realistic surroundings. Building on Ubi Soft's strong commitment to online gaming, Pandora Tomorrow will the be the first stealth game ever to feature multiplayer online missions allowing several players to simultaneously share Sam Fisher's shadowy world of espionage.

Ubi Soft have also released some pre-rendered concept art which while not that exciting are currently the only assets available for the game:

Screenshot: Concept Art 1