Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege

Did You Know?

• The game's map Consulate was inspired by the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege.
• The game uses Ubisoft's RealBlast technology for destructible environments.
• Spin-off games Rainbow Six Extraction and Rainbow Six Tactics were released in January 2022 and 2027, respectively.

Gameplay

Rainbow Six Siege is a first-person shooter where players control operators from the Rainbow team, each with distinct nationalities, weapons, and gadgets. The game has an asymmetrical structure, meaning teams are not always balanced in ability choices. Base Counter-Terrorism Units include the FBI SWAT, SAS, GSG-9, Spetsnaz, and GIGN, each with four operators split between attackers and defenders. A Recruit operator offers flexible equipment without a unique gadget. Players select operators, spawn points, and weapon attachments before a round, with no changes allowed once it starts. An in-game shop lets players purchase operators or cosmetics using Renown, earned from match performance. Different modes award renown at different rates, with ranked matches offering the highest multiplier. Challenges provide small renown amounts, and boosters increase renown gain for durations starting at 24 hours. R6 credits, bought with real money, can unlock operators faster or purchase cosmetic items like weapon or operator skins.

Development

The game's predecessor, Tom Clancy's Rainbow 6: Patriots, was announced in 2011 with a narrative focus and many cut-scenes. It entered development hell due to an outdated engine and frequent leadership changes, and its planned release on seventh-generation consoles limited processing capabilities. Ubisoft cancelled Patriots and formed a new team of 25 people to reboot the series. Only certain multiplayer elements were kept as the team took a different direction. They evaluated the Rainbow Six core—being a counter-terrorist team handling intense attacker-defender confrontations—and adapted it into a multiplayer format for sustainability. All resources were devoted to multiplayer, abandoning a single-player campaign. Development began in January 2013, led by Ubisoft Montreal with assistance from offices in Barcelona, Toronto, Kyiv, Shanghai, and Chengdu. The game was originally titled Rainbow Six Unbreakable, reflecting its destruction mechanic and the team's resolve after Patriots' cancellation. Brand director Alexandre Remy said the team was confident in their vision but nervous about revealing it, aware the change might disappoint some fans.

Release

Ubisoft announced the game at E3 2014. In August 2015, the release was delayed from October 10 to December 1, 2015, to allow more time for balancing cooperative multiplayer. A closed alpha ran April 7–13, 2015, for server testing and feedback. A closed beta began September 24, 2015, and an open beta was delayed from November 25 to November 26 due to matchmaking issues. Xbox One purchasers could download Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas and its sequel for free. Ubisoft planned to remove graphic imagery from all versions via a patch for Asian markets but withdrew the plan after review bombing and negative fan feedback. Multiple versions were available: a season pass announced November 12, 2015, offering early DLC operator access and weapon skins; a Collector's Edition including the season pass, a hat, compass, bottle opener, backpack, and 120-page guide; and a Starter Edition released on PC in June 2016, cheaper than the Standard Edition, with two starting operators and enough R6 Credits for two more, while others required increased Renown or additional credits. The Starter Edition became permanently available via Uplay in February 2017.

Reception

Rainbow Six Siege received generally favorable reviews on Metacritic. Critics widely praised the multiplayer. Chris Carter of Destructoid highlighted its open-ended nature for keeping matches unpredictable. GameSpot's Scott Butterworth appreciated the creativity allowed in approaching missions. James Davenport of PC Gamer called it a psychological race where players constantly outwit opponents. Ryan McCaffery of IGN praised the tactical possibilities as tense and riveting. The large operator roster was praised by Carter and Game Informer's Matt Bertz for adding depth and variety. However, McCaffery noted a lack of game mode variety, with players often ignoring objectives to eliminate opponents. Terrorist Hunt received mixed opinions: Carter found it relaxing, Butterworth exhilarating, but Bertz criticized its lack of variety, weak AI, and less-intense nature compared to PvP modes. Eurogamer's Martin Robinson noted the mode ran at 30 frames per second, limiting its appeal.