This year marks the 10th anniversary of the popular tactical shooter game, Rainbow Six Siege, and Ubisoft is commemorating this significant milestone with a substantial overhaul of the game. The transformation manifests in a new version called Rainbow Six Siege X, which serves as the basis for the next decade of Siege gaming. All the familiar aspects and beloved features of Siege remain intact, along with numerous enhancements, novel additions, and fresh ways to engage with the game. Current players will be able to transfer all their existing items to Rainbow Six Siege X, while newcomers can join in for free. To clarify, this is not a sequel to Rainbow Six Siege; rather, it’s an updated version of the game you’ve been enjoying for years.
In a brand-new chapter for “Rainbow Six Siege”, I was given the opportunity to test the game in Atlanta before its grand reveal. I spent hours playing it, chatted with the developers, and learned why Ubisoft is pouring so much effort into this updated version of Siege. To be fair, “Siege X” remains largely the same as its predecessor. The primary goals are unchanged, the intense tactical destruction persists, and every operator you know is present. If you fire up “Siege X”, you’ll feel instantly comfortable as a seasoned Siege player, with no learning curve to navigate whatsoever. This might be a letdown for some who yearn for something grander and distinct from the game they’ve been playing for over a decade, but it seems this is just the foundation for something new and invigorating.
Why Is Rainbow Six Siege X Not a Sequel?
It seems that Ubisoft has not yet produced a follow-up to their popular game “Siege“. Game director Josh Mills joined the team three years ago when Ubisoft started brainstorming ways to evolve the game. Although they contemplated creating a sequel, Mills believes it might be challenging to recreate that bolt of lightning twice, as a sequel could potentially ruin the aspects of the game that fans cherish.
The possibility of a sequel was discussed, but upon closer examination, it’s clear that recreating the magic of the original Siege is like trying to capture lightning in a bottle. This is because we are now dealing with completely different technology and experiences, as well as an entirely new team who made decisions during the development of Siege across generations.
Starting everything anew from the ground up isn’t feasible. Since we manage all our technology, we can pick out parts, reassemble them, and then plan for where we want to be in the next five years, even ten years. This way, we can also prepare ourselves for future challenges by adapting to different products. Being able to do this has been beneficial, although there are many non-player aspects behind the scenes that aren’t visible, this process has shown us we can keep progressing.
In Siege X, while there may be some criticism about changes in gameplay, it’s important to note that there are indeed legitimate modifications. One of the most significant features is the “destructible environment” elements, which are interactive objects within the map that can alter the playing field. For instance, shooting a fire extinguisher will generate a large smoke cloud, providing an opportunity for escape or confusion towards your opponent. Additionally, hitting gas pipes will cause a continuous flow of fire, potentially blocking off strategic points or pursuers before it eventually explodes, creating a massive fiery puddle on the floor. These elements add another level of strategy to the game and can swiftly yet fairly shift the outcome of battles in an instant.
In a high-stakes game, I found myself guarding an objective when the opposing team was poised to rush in through a door. In a split second, I fired at one of the gas lines, injuring one of them and forcing them to withdraw. However, they didn’t realize that it would eventually explode, leading to a severe burn which ultimately resulted in a lethal gas blast. Despite being rare, Mills informed me that this type of interactive element could expand significantly if players react positively, implying that there’s more to come for this system.
Mills stated, “It’s great to kick things off by incorporating these new elements into our game. Whether or not we can extend this further will depend on the feedback and usage from our community. As we’ve always emphasized when developing new aspects for the game, we aim to avoid anything that feels like a mere gimmick. Instead, these additions should have a substantial impact on gameplay mechanics. Rest assured, there are more developments in store, but for now, we want to launch this, gather data, and keep exploring beyond this point. We have plans for future expansion, but we’re not revealing all our strategies just yet.
Could Terrorist Hunt Return in Rainbow Six Siege X?
Ubisoft has made significant improvements to Rainbow Six Siege by enhancing its graphics, fine-tuning its audio, and incorporating various user-friendly features such as sprinting while rappelling, weapon inspections, and a revamped user interface. Furthermore, they have developed advanced AI for training modes that mimic the actions of real players more accurately than before. These AI opponents can employ gadgets, break through walls, and strategize effectively, providing you with an authentic training experience to prepare you for actual matches.
Although this is really only going to be utilized by new players, it begs the question: Will Ubisoft ever have more cooperative content in this ten year vision for Siege X? I asked Mills about a potential return to something like Terrorist Hunt in Siege X and it sounds like Ubisoft isn’t ruling anything out.
”I think the reality is, when we talk about Terrorist Hunt, I am super excited about the AI innovations that we’re doing,” said Mills. “They kick so much ass, the fact that our AI can play like our players and do gadgets, proper flanking, and team up with each other, and drone now, it’s nuts what they can do. To continue to build that up and enhance that over time makes a truer experience as to what you can go up against in a match of Siege. Just being able to run through the map and knock down targets, there’s something about that and there’s value to it. By overhauling our entire AI system, we future-proof ourselves to build the next iteration of different things.”
We’re open to considering it, as we’ve received a request from our community. We value their input greatly, so we’re eager to listen to their suggestions. However, there are necessary steps we must take before we can move towards something like that.
Instead, fans should not anticipate a standalone single-player campaign or similar content in the future of Siege X.
“Siege will always be PvP, that’s kind of in the nature of the game,” said Mills.
Rainbow Six Siege X‘s Big New Mode
Referring back to the E3 2014 unveiling of Rainbow Six Siege, I reminded Mills about it. I specifically highlighted the helicopter drop feature that was showcased but didn’t make it into the final game. This feature allowed attackers to rappel from a helicopter onto the roof as their starting point. It offered an immersive, thrilling, and tactical experience, but for unknown reasons, it wasn’t incorporated. Mills shared that this was a significant moment for him as a fan before he joined the Siege team, and it continues to influence his efforts in shaping Rainbow Six Siege X’s gaming experience.
Mills remarked, “At that instant, it felt like a memory from my past as a player. The reason being, it fit perfectly with the imagined scenario one would have. Nowadays, we emphasize the concept of ‘player fantasy’ quite a bit – depicting these top-tier operatives performing extraordinary deeds that others can’t. That’s why I’m so thrilled about Dual Front and missions; they offer us an opportunity to delve deeper into this operator fantasy and perform actions that align with it.
As a gamer diving headfirst into Siege X, I’ve got to say that Mills’ mention of the Dual Front mode really caught my attention. This fresh take on Siege gameplay transforms it into a thrilling 6v6 battlefield with respawns. In this mode, players find themselves in the midst of both offensive and defensive roles, allowing them to pick operators from both pools. The twist? Both teams are battling simultaneously over two active points on the map. It’s all about making strategic decisions: deciding who stays behind to guard the objective and who pushes forward for an attack on the enemy base. After a few rounds, I found myself rethinking my usual strategies – even Doc, traditionally a defender, proved more effective when he joined the attacking force. His healing and revival skills were invaluable as we stormed the opponent’s building.
In this game, the first team that accumulates three objectives wins, but there’s an interesting twist. During the game, both teams get a chance to perform a special task that advances their position on the opponent’s territory, making it simpler to achieve their goals. In our last match, this was done by rescuing a hostage and then extracting them using a helicopter. It’s an enjoyable method of adding variety to the game and maintaining its competitiveness.
In summary, the experience is enjoyable and Ubisoft intends to maintain its excitement. Each month, the selection of operators in Dual Front will be shuffled, and the maps will undergo regular changes to keep gamers engaged. This isn’t limited to Dual Front; Siege X as a whole plans to introduce more content at an accelerated pace. This includes a new or remastered operator each time, three reworked maps from the original game, and two significant events per season. Furthermore, Year 11 is set to debut a fresh map for the game, demonstrating Ubisoft’s commitment to providing a continuous flow of content in the future.
Rainbow Six Siege X Goes Free to Play
In year 10, season 2 (expected this summer), Rainbow Six Siege X will debut, offering two versions: a paid one and a free one. The paid version retains the usual content from Siege, while the free version enables players to acquire up to 26 operators and engage in Dual Front, Quick Play, and all unranked content. To access every operator and competitive modes, you’ll need the premium version. If you already own Siege, there’s no extra cost as you’ll automatically receive this version.
The reason Ubisoft chose this structure for their free version is quite straightforward. Primarily, it enables players to familiarize themselves with Siege at no cost, learning the basics without having to spend a substantial amount of money upfront. Additionally, by offering a free version, Ubisoft aims to preserve the competitive integrity of Rainbow Six Siege X as much as possible. This means that only those players who are genuinely committed to investing in the game can participate in ranked matches, while also preventing cheaters from gaining access.
Mills emphasized that safeguarding the competitive edge of our players is something they prioritize greatly. This aspect guides their decisions, as they aim to maintain it as the primary focus for their game, Siege. By securing this level of play behind a paywall, they can prevent an influx of content and ensure fair play. He praised their anti-cheat measures and efforts, stating that they’ve significantly improved the game, and are committed to continued protection to preserve its integrity.
Ultimately, Rainbow Siege X sounds like a compelling starting point for the future of the game. I really do hope that Ubisoft continues to innovate with bigger ideas beyond operators such as integrating more of these destructible ingredients, more dynamic elements, and hopefully, something like Terrorist Hunt. It sounds like they’ve created a foundation that could allow for stuff like that down the line, but either way, Siege X is only improving the game. It’s not a case of Warzone 2 or Overwatch 2 where the game goes too far in the other direction and totally regresses the experience, prompting the developer to spend years undoing its mistakes.
Game X, being generally secure, offers an engaging experience that players have cherished for a full decade, despite its limited number of modes. Maintaining this status quo might be the wisest choice, ensuring the game’s continued success over the coming years. There’s no rush to make drastic changes when the game is already thriving; instead, let’s hope it continues to smoothly navigate through future waters for another decade.
Disclaimer: Ubisoft provided travel and lodging for the purposes of this preview event.
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2025-03-13 22:11