- What is Ubisoft?
- What are tactical shooters?
- What editions of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege are available to buy?
- What platforms is Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege available on?
- What are the advantages of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege?
- What are the downsides of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege?
- Why do gamers like Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege?
What is Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege?
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege is a tactical first-person shooter video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It was released worldwide on December 1, 2015, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Later versions of the game were also released for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
In the game, each player assumes control of an “Operator” from the Rainbow team, a counter-terrorist unit. Each operator has their own unique ability and equipment that can be used in a variety of ways to achieve the team’s goals. Matches are typically played in a 5v5 format, with one team defending a location (and often a hostage or bomb) and the other team trying to breach the defenses and complete the objective.
The game is played in rounds and teams switch roles between rounds. A round ends when all players on one team are eliminated, the objective is completed, or time runs out. The first team to win a certain number of rounds (typically best of 5 or best of 7) wins the match.
“Rainbow Six Siege” has been praised for its tactical gameplay and depth, though it also has a reputation for having a steep learning curve due to the large number of operators, each with their own unique abilities, and the importance of strategy and teamwork. The game has also been supported with regular updates and new content from Ubisoft, including new operators, maps, and gameplay changes.
What is Ubisoft?
Ubisoft is a major French video game company and one of the largest in the world. It was founded in 1986 by the Guillemot brothers—Yves, Claude, Gérard, Michel, and Christian. The company’s headquarters are located in Montreuil, near Paris, France.
Ubisoft is known for developing and publishing a wide range of popular video game franchises across various genres. Some of their most well-known and successful franchises include “Assassin’s Creed,” “Far Cry,” “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six,” “Watch Dogs,” and “Just Dance.”
The company has studios in multiple countries, including Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, and the United States, among others. Ubisoft’s development teams work on creating innovative and engaging games for various platforms, including consoles, PCs, and mobile devices.
What are tactical shooters?
Tactical shooters are a subgenre of shooter video games that emphasize realism and strategy over fast-paced action or run-and-gun gameplay, which are more typical of mainstream first-person and third-person shooters.
Key elements of tactical shooters include:
- Realistic combat: Players often can’t survive many hits, weapons behave more like their real-world counterparts, and players might have to manage things like ammunition count and recoil.
- Teamwork: Many tactical shooters encourage or require cooperation with AI or human teammates. This can involve things like flanking maneuvers, setting up crossfires, rescuing hostages, or defusing bombs.
- Strategic planning: Rather than just running towards the enemy, players need to think about things like cover, line of sight, and tactical positioning. Some games even let players plan out their moves in advance.
- Slow pace: Tactical shooters typically involve careful movement and a significant amount of waiting and listening. Stealth and surprise can be important elements.
- Complex scenarios: Rather than just killing all the enemies, players might have to complete objectives like rescuing hostages, defusing bombs, or capturing points. Non-combat gameplay elements like reconnaissance or negotiation might also be included.
Examples of tactical shooters include the Rainbow Six series, the earlier Ghost Recon games, Arma series, and games like SWAT 4. Of course, not every game in this genre includes all of these elements, and the lines between different game genres can often be blurry.
What editions of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege are available to buy?
The available editions of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege varied over time and typically included the base game along with various combinations of extra content such as season passes, bonus in-game currency, and unlockable operators (the game’s playable characters).
The editions that were available at some point included:
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege Standard Edition: The base game without any extra content.
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege Deluxe Edition: The base game plus extra operators from the first and second year of post-launch content.
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege Gold Edition: The Deluxe Edition plus a season pass for the current year, which typically includes early access to new operators, bonus in-game currency, and other extras.
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege Ultimate Edition: The base game plus all operators from every year of post-launch content up to the time of purchase.
- Year Pass: Not an edition of the game itself, but an add-on that includes early access to new operators, bonus in-game currency, and other extras for a particular year of post-launch content.
These editions were subject to change and varied by platform and region, and Ubisoft sometimes retired old editions and introduced new ones. It’s also worth noting that Rainbow Six Siege has a significant amount of microtransactions, with many cosmetic items and some operators available to purchase with real money.
What platforms is Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege available on?
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege is available on the following platforms:
- Microsoft Windows via Steam and Epic Games Store through Ubisoft Connect
- PlayStation 4
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series X/S
The game also supports cross-generation play, meaning that players on PS4 can play with those on PS5, and players on Xbox One can play with those on Xbox Series X/S. It’s also available through subscription services like Xbox Game Pass.
What are the advantages of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege?
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege offers several unique advantages compared to many other first-person shooter games, which have helped it maintain a large and active player base:
- Tactical Gameplay: Rainbow Six Siege is known for its emphasis on strategic team play, careful planning, and tactical decision-making, which sets it apart from more run-and-gun style shooters.
- Destructible Environments: Many parts of the game’s environments can be destroyed or modified, which opens up a wide range of tactical possibilities. Players can breach walls, create new lines of sight, or even reshape the map to their advantage.
- Unique Operators: The game features a diverse roster of “operators” – playable characters each with their own unique abilities and gadgets, which can significantly affect the team’s strategy.
- Constant Updates: Since its release, Ubisoft has continuously supported Rainbow Six Siege with regular updates, including new operators, maps, balance changes, and game modes, keeping the game fresh and engaging.
- Competitive Scene: Rainbow Six Siege has a thriving competitive scene with professional esports tournaments, which can be both exciting to participate in and to watch.
- Deep Learning Curve: While this can be a barrier for new players, many find the depth and complexity of Rainbow Six Siege to be one of its main draws. The satisfaction of mastering the game’s mechanics and strategies can be very rewarding.
What are the downsides of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege?
While Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege is a popular and critically-acclaimed game, it does have certain aspects that some players might see as downsides:
- Steep Learning Curve: Rainbow Six Siege is known for its depth and complexity, which can be overwhelming for new players. The game involves a lot of strategic planning and knowledge about different operators, maps, and tactics, which can take time to learn.
- Team Dependence: The game heavily relies on teamwork and communication. If you’re playing with a team that doesn’t cooperate or communicate well, it can lead to a frustrating experience. This also means that playing solo can be challenging.
- Toxicity: Like many online multiplayer games, Rainbow Six Siege can sometimes suffer from toxic behavior from players, such as harassment, trolling, or cheating. Ubisoft has taken steps to combat this, but it can still be a problem.
- Microtransactions: Rainbow Six Siege includes microtransactions, which means players can pay real money for in-game items and benefits. Some players feel this detracts from the game experience.
- Balancing issues: With a large roster of unique operators, keeping the game balanced is a challenge. Some players feel that certain operators are overpowered or underpowered.
- Connectivity Issues: Some players have reported issues with server stability and matchmaking, although this can vary based on location and platform.
Why do gamers like Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege?
People love playing Rainbow Six Siege because it’s not just about running around and shooting everything. You have to actually think and plan out your moves. It’s super cool how you can blow up walls and stuff, which makes every match feel different. Plus, there’s a ton of different operators you can pick from, each with their own unique gadgets and skills, so you can find one that totally fits your style.