A lot of discussion is already being had about the recently announced Rainbow Six Siege X, with Ubisoft finally shedding light on the many rumors and theories behind a massive overhaul of the popular tactical shooter. This major upcoming update will likely significantly change the feel, mechanics, graphics, and more of Siege, which understandably excites many fans while also raising some questions and concerns.
Although little is currently known about this massive upcoming change to Rainbow Six Siege, it seems to mark an extremely important step towards Ubisoft’s future plans for the successful title, with other established popular multiplayer games adopting similar approaches in recent years. As seen quite famously within other IPs like Overwatch and Counter-Strike, the ambitious level of change coming to Siege could cause some split opinions.
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Rainbow Six Siege X Follows a Growingly Popular Trend
Rainbow Six Siege X was announced by Ubisoft on February 16 with a short teaser trailer, with it being billed as the “biggest transformation in the game’s history.” Ubisoft confirmed that Siege X will see massive graphical and audio upgrades be added to the title, alongside expanded tactical gameplay avenues and completely new ways to play. This tease about what is set to come in Siege‘s near future already has fans talking, with Ubisoft announcing a dedicated showcase for Siege X on March 13 that will offer a much deeper dive into the changes.
From what Ubisoft has already communicated about Siege X, it seems as if its changes will come in the form of a major update to the already-existing Rainbow Six Siege, and will not constitute an entirely new release. This is not the first time a major title has gone to such great lengths to modernize and revamp its core experience, with Overwatch 2 surprising many fans in 2020 with the way it completely replaced its predecessor while retaining large amounts of the same content.
Overwatch 2 originally distinguished itself through ambitious core changes like 5v5 gameplay, and the title has recently reverted to older gameplay formulas like 6v6 matches to please older fans, showing a pull-and-push battle for the franchise’s modern identity.
Of course, 2023 also saw the release of Counter-Strike 2, which itself replaced the iconic Global Offensive, with Valve offering the same kind of graphical and mechanical overhauls to the franchise that Ubisoft is seemingly attempting to achieve with the roll-out of Rainbow Six Siege X. Siege originally launched in late 2015, with the tenth anniversary of the title coming up fast, and the X in the naming of the recently announced changes could indicate that Ubisoft is attempting to completely revamp the game in honor of its decade milestone.
The Ambition of Rainbow Six Siege X Comes With Some Risks
If Siege X simply rolls out within the already-released base game, then the changes could be a great way to give a needed boost to Siege and its core gameplay experience, potentially expanding its playerbase and opening the title up to many more years in the spotlight of the gaming industry. With that being said, this kind of increasingly common approach to older titles has drawn its fair share of criticism, with some arguing that it stifles creativity and takes resources away from newer projects that aim to offer fresh experiences.
While the success of Overwatch and Counter-Strike‘s recent overhauls is debatable, their changes definitely served to revitalize their respective communities, and it seems fair that the ten-year run of Rainbow Six Siege is deserving of its own fresh coat of paint. The extent of how far Siege X will change the core feel of the title remains to be seen, but it seems likely that other longstanding multiplayer titles will follow this growing trend in the same way as Rainbow Six Siege in the near future.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege is a team-based tactical shooter, which is set in indoor environments. The gameplay is based on a symmetrical confrontation between Attackers and Defenders. Both teams have five operators and the games are timed. Highly strategic gameplay requires teamwork and as a first-person shooter, aiming well is important. The game is ever-changing with each season bringing new content, additional operators and abilities, events, weapons, maps, and an evolving meta-game.