THERE are some big changes coming to Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege this year, with developer Ubisoft unveiling a new operator, a new map and new game mode as part one of its roadmap for the year.
Named Demon Veil, the update introduces a new defender named Azami, a Japanese operator with a VIP Close Protection background.
Her special ability is a Kiba Barrier gadget; a throwable device that creates a bulletproof surface and she is armed with either a 9mm SMG or a semi-auto shotgun, with the Desert Eagle as a handgun.
Having tested Azami in a preview session with some other Australian games journalists, I can say the ability to create a bulletproof barrier is surprisingly useful – among other things, it can block breach holes, provide cover for area traversal, or simply mess with opposing teams attempting to get a sight picture.
Map-wise, the latest addition is Emerald Plains, located in Ireland. It’s an old castle that’s been turned into a modern rich people resort/country club; I haven’t had a chance to playtest the map yet but in the video previews I’ve seen of it, it certainly looks well-designed and interesting.
There’s also a new game mode in the form of a permanent Team Deathmatch game mode, which Ubisoft say has been “created to provide the perfect environment for players to warm up and practice their aim before competitive matches, as well as offer a more casual gameplay experience within Rainbow Six Siege”.
I was able to experience the new team deathmatch mode as part of the preview and it was a lot of fun (even if I got eliminated pretty quickly by much more skilled opponents) – and the respawn ability (including being able to change Operators before respawning) kept things moving very nicely.
There are no special abilities etc; it’s just the operators and whatever weapons they select. It’s a good chance to explore and learn the maps (especially if you’re not very good at competitive FPS games) and have a bit of casual fun, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have concerns about the mode becoming quite competitive fairly quickly even though it’s intended to be the complete opposite.
The developers have also shared their roadmap for the game this year, saying that following from Demon Veil, Season 2 will introduce a Belgian Operator and an exclusive Team Deathmatch map set in Greece, while Season 3 will have a Singaporean Operator a new competitive map, while the final Operator of the year hails from Colombia.
The rest of the roadmap is outline in the official press release from Ubisoft, shared below:
Throughout Year 7, the development team will take steps towards addressing specific player behaviour to further anti-cheat efforts introduced in Year 6 like the Reputation System. Season 1 introduces improvements towards detecting griefing and player disconnects. Season 2 tackles players who misuse friendly fire through sanctions restricting reverse friendly fire as well as improving match cancellations.
In Season 3, players can access reporting options in Match Replay to address harassment in voice and video chat. Season 3 also introduces Reputation Scores for players, which will launch in Season 4 and start deploying rewards and sanctions to block repeat offenders. In Year 7, the development team strives to meet their continued goal of creating a secure and fair environment.
YEAR 7 PASS
From tomorrow until March 21, players can purchase the limited-time Year Pass for AU $44.95 or the Premium Year Pass for AU $89.95. The Year Pass unlocks the four seasonal Battle Passes – which includes a 14-day early access to new Operators when they launch – while the Premium Year Pass unlocks four Battle Passes, the early access to new Operators, exclusive Exotic weapon skins, VIP credits, and more. Players who purchase the Premium Year Pass will also unlock 20 extra Tiers out of 100, receiving rewards quicker.
CONSOLE GAMEPLAY
Console players will receive several dedicated updates this year including aim control personalisation, new controller input presets, and field of view settings.
ONBOARDING FEATURES
To better introduce new players to Rainbow Six Siege, Year 7 adds a Shooting Range: playable spaces to practice, train, and experiment without the pressure of a match. Another onboarding tool, Operator Tips, will let players get to know each Operator, their gadgets, and any tips that might be helpful for Attacker or Defender strategies.
BALANCING AND PLAYLIST UPDATES
The development team will continue reworking several Operators this year including Zero, Bandit, Dokkaebi, and Thatcher. Year 7 will add Team Deathmatch and Arcade permanently to the playlist, as well as revamping the Ranked experience to reflect a player’s progression better.
Rainbow Six Siege will be adding cross-play and cross-progression near the end of 2022.
To learn more about Year 7 roadmap, please visit: https://rainbow6.com/roadmap.
