Ubisoft gave an update on Rainbow Six Siege during today's Ubisoft Forward Broadcast. The presentation revealed that the game is coming to next-gen consoles with big plans, but for now hyped up the current competitive season. It also showed off Splinter Cell's Sam Fisher return in an animated trailer to kick off his addition to Siege's roster.
After the event, Ubisoft revealed that Rainbow Six Siege's PS5 and Xbox Series X versions will come as free upgrades to current owners who buy the same family of console. The new versions will support 4K and 120 fps. Progression and content will also carry over to the next-gen versions.
The Rainbow Six Siege segment opened with a focus on the esports scene. It introduced basketball player Tony Parker as an ambassador to the sport. After talking about the thrill of competition and national pride, they introduced the new season, which launches tonight.
Tonight's update is Operation Shadow Legacy, an event that adds Splinter Cell's Sam Fisher as a playable operator. Fan reaction is mixed, to say the least. For some it's a fun crossover, with Fisher making a perfect addition to Siege's tactical gameplay. For others it's a grim reminder that Ubisoft will do anything but put out a new Splinter Cell game.
Rainbow Six Siege has had a rollercoaster of a year with 2020. On one hand, the game's esports scene has made some major moves. Ubisoft decided to focus on building up several local scenes to keep competitive Siege healthy. The goal is to build excitement and train tomorrow's best players so that the game will always have a strong esports playerbase. Even despite Covid-19, the organization did manage to establish a Canadian Division and a Collegiate League.
On the other hand, the Rainbow Six scene faced a big threat from Riot Games' Valorant. While Siege weathered the storm against the onslaught of battle royales, Valorant came with massive esports promise and fan hype. The fact that Valorant is also a tactical shooter saw it push into Siege's arena, to the point that Siege player spending almost immediately dropped. Despite the competition, the Siege team is hard at work getting the game ready for next gen consoles. They teased big plans for the PS5 and Xbox Series X ports.
Before the event, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot shared a video addressing recent accusations of a toxic workplace at the company.
Rainbow Six Siege is now available for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. PS5 and Xbox Series X versions are expected close to the consoles' launch.
Source: Ubisoft