Rainbow Six Siege, Ubisoft’s most successful game of the last decade outside of Assassin’s Creed, is about to undergo its biggest transformation yet. As the tactical shooter marks its 10th anniversary, Ubisoft has announced Rainbow Six Siege X, describing it as “the biggest transformation in the game’s history.”
The announcement comes at a pivotal moment, bringing two major developments: the complete overhaul of the base game with Siege X, and the launch of Year 10’s first season. According to Joshua Mills, the game’s director, this isn’t just another update – it represents a “major evolution” that has been in development for three years.
This strategic move aims to “reinforce Rainbow Six Siege’s position at the top of tactical first-person shooters,” setting the stage for the next decade of the game’s life. While Ubisoft promises “new ways to play” and “deepened tactical gameplay,” they’ve been clear on one point: this isn’t a sequel, but rather a transformation of the existing game.
Rainbow Six Siege X: What’s Coming
Siege X is built on a simple idea: make the game better, not different. This isn’t Siege 2. Instead, it’s a major upgrade to the game you know.
The team’s been quiet about this project. For three years, they’ve worked behind closed doors. No leaks got out. That’s pretty rare in gaming.
What are they changing? The basics are clear:
- Better graphics
- Improved sound
- Deeper tactical play
- Fresh ways to play
“We can’t show everything yet,” says Alex Karpazis from Ubisoft. That’s why they’re planning a big reveal. On March 13th, fans can head to Atlanta or watch online to see what’s new.
Some players hope Ubisoft will use this update to simplify things. Ten years of additions have made the game complex. Many fans hope this update strips back some of these additions, at least as an option, making it easier for fresh players to get started. Making it easier for new players to jump in could help everyone.
Making The Game Better
Let’s look at what Siege X plans to fix. The biggest changes start with how the game looks and sounds. Ubisoft hasn’t shown off these improvements much yet, but they say they’re making major upgrades to both graphics and audio.
The team’s keeping most details quiet until March. But what we know points to more than just surface changes. They’re calling it a significant leap forward, big enough that they couldn’t properly show it off at the Six Invitational event.
Some creators and press members have already seen these changes, getting an early-access look at how Siege X improves the base game. Their early reactions seem positive. During the Six Invitational showcase, several big names in Rainbow Six looked impressed with what they saw behind closed doors.
The game’s going to feel different too. Ubisoft talks about “refined game-feel” and deeper tactical gameplay. They want to keep what makes Siege special while making it play better. But we’ll need to wait for the full reveal to see exactly what that means.
Operation Prep Phase: Meet Rauora
Operation Prep Phase brings someone new to the fight. Rauora, from New Zealand’s SAS, joins the Attackers team. She’s bringing a smart way to control the battlefield.
Her main tool is the D.O.M. Launcher – that’s short for Deployable Omnilink Mesh. Think of it as a high-tech door system. When Rauora sees a doorway, she can shoot a panel that covers it completely. These aren’t just regular barriers – they’re smart covers that even let friendly drones slip through.
What makes her special is how she uses these barriers. Both teams can open and close them, but Rauora’s team gets an edge. They can trigger the doors faster, and for a short time after deployment, only attackers can open them. This timing advantage lets her team control the pace of a fight.
For weapons, she’s got choices. She can take a 417 sniper rifle if she wants to play it safe, or an M249 machine gun if she’s feeling aggressive. Her backup options include the GSH-18 pistol or the new Reaper MK2 submachine gun, which comes ready with a red dot sight and extended magazine.
But these barriers aren’t perfect. They won’t stop explosions, and operators like Oryx can still break through. Even Jäger’s ADS can stop the panels before they deploy. Smart players will need to think carefully about when and where to use them.
Making The Game Safer and Smoother
Ubisoft isn’t just changing how the game looks. They’re fixing how it works under the hood too. The biggest change is a new Dynamic Matchmaking system that works smarter, not harder. It looks at how many players are trying to find games and adjusts to match them better.
They’re also getting tough on cheaters. Working with Battleye, they’ve cracked down hard. The numbers tell the story – in just one month, they caught and banned 19,000 players who were cheating. And it’s working. Since the middle of last year, they’ve cut down games ruined by cheaters by 40%.
Joshua Mills got emotional talking about these changes at the Six Invitational. Makes sense – these updates help keep the game fair for everyone who plays it. That’s what keeps people coming back to Siege, even after ten years.
François-Xavier Deniele, who runs Ubisoft’s esports, says it best: “We’re not here to change the game. We’re here to serve it.” They’re listening to players and fixing what needs fixing, not changing things just because they can.
What’s Next for Rainbow Six
The big day is March 13th. That’s when Ubisoft will show everything they’ve been working on for the past three years. They’re planning a three-hour showcase in Atlanta, and players can either show up in person or watch it online from home through the Rainbow Six Siege Twitch channel
Operation Prep Phase hits the test servers next week. Players can try out Rauora and her new gadgets before the full launch in March.
But the real story is Siege X. The team’s been very clear – this isn’t just another update. They’ve spent three years building what they say will keep Rainbow Six at the top of tactical shooters for the next decade. Ubisoft wants this game to stick around, and they’re betting big on these changes to make that happen.
For now, the regular game keeps running. Year 10 kicks off with Operation Prep Phase, and there’s more to come after that. If the leaked info is right, we might see Siege X launch with the second season of Year 10.
As François-Xavier Deniele puts it, success in this game comes from staying open and listening to players. That’s the plan for the next ten years – keep building on what works, fix what doesn’t, and keep the game growing.
Let me create a clear and organized summary of the key takeaways and frequently asked questions from this article.
Key Takeaways
- Rainbow Six Siege is undergoing its largest transformation in 10 years, called “Siege X.” This represents a major evolution that has been in development for three years.
- Siege X is not a sequel but rather a comprehensive upgrade to the existing game, focusing on improvements like:
- Enhanced graphics and audio
- Refined gameplay mechanics
- Deeper tactical elements
- New ways to play while maintaining core gameplay
- A new operator, Rauora from New Zealand’s SAS, is being introduced with Operation Prep Phase. Her unique D.O.M. Launcher creates smart door barriers that can be controlled by both teams but gives attackers an advantage.
- Ubisoft is implementing significant technical improvements:
- A new Dynamic Matchmaking system
- Enhanced anti-cheat measures (19,000 cheaters banned in one month)
- 40% reduction in games affected by cheaters since mid-last year
- The full reveal of Siege X will take place on March 13th in Atlanta, with a three-hour showcase that can be watched online through Twitch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Siege X a new game or sequel?
A: No, it’s a transformation of the existing Rainbow Six Siege game, not a separate sequel.
Q: When will Siege X be revealed?
A: The full reveal is scheduled for March 13th in Atlanta, with a three-hour showcase that can be watched online on the Rainbow Six Siege Twitch channel.
Q: Who is the new operator?
A: Rauora, from New Zealand’s SAS, is joining as an attacker. She comes equipped with the D.O.M. Launcher that creates controllable door barriers and has access to weapons including the 417 sniper rifle, M249 machine gun, GSH-18 pistol, and Reaper MK2 submachine gun.
Q: How long has Siege X been in development?
A: The project has been in development for three years.
Q: What improvements are being made to combat cheating?
A: Ubisoft has implemented stronger anti-cheat measures with Battleye, resulting in 19,000 banned cheaters in one month and a 40% reduction in games affected by cheating.
Q: When will Operation Prep Phase be available?
A: Operation Prep Phase will be available on test servers next week, with a full launch expected in March.
Q: Will the current version of the game continue to run?
A: Yes, the regular game will continue operating, with Year 10 beginning with Operation Prep Phase. Siege X is expected to launch with the second season of Year 10, according to leaked information.