Rainbow Six Siege X: A Game-Changing Evolution for Newcomers!

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It’s astonishing to reflect on the fact that it’s almost been a decade since the debut of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, a tactical shooter renowned for its focus on destructible settings and teamwork. Over the years, Rainbow Six Siege has consistently ranked among the best tactical shooters due to its intricate strategic elements, outshining many others in the genre. As it approaches its tenth anniversary, it could benefit from some updates to welcome new players and breathe fresh life into gameplay. Enter Rainbow Six Siege X – a significant upgrade of Siege that introduces a new 6v6 game mode, refinements to enhance its tactical core, a facelift for classic maps, and much more.

Recently, Game Rant was given an opportunity to visit Atlanta, Georgia to preview Rainbow Six Siege X, its fresh 6v6 Dual Front game mode, updated 5v5 maps, and all the changes that accompany it. Having played several hours of Siege X, it appears that it carries the capacity to rejuvenate the game for the contemporary era and maintain excitement for the next decade. The bulk of our time was dedicated to testing out the new Dual Front game mode, which appears set to delight novices, but we did manage some time with the visual and mechanical improvements made to Siege‘s classic 5v5 Bomb mode too.

Siege X’s New Dual Front Mode Is a Game Changer for Newcomers

A common criticism of the game Rainbow Six Siege in recent times is that it has evolved primarily for seasoned veterans and competitive players, making it difficult for beginners and those lacking experience or the resilience to cope with them. Matches in the ranked mode, in particular, are unforgiving, as even minor mistakes can lead to not only hostility from the opposing team, but also from one’s own teammates. This is expected with a game as established as Siege, but it’s still unfortunate for new players trying their hand at it.

In essence, the innovative Dual Front mode in Rainbow Six Siege X offers a refreshing twist for novice gamers by creating a more balanced environment to enter the game comfortably without disappointing seasoned players. Unlike traditional 5v5 modes, Dual Front is a 6v6 setting intentionally designed to introduce players to the diverse Operators and strategies of Rainbow Six Siege beyond its tutorial. Communication isn’t as essential in this mode compared to 5v5 games, the tempo is more relaxed, the map is expansive, and players can respawn multiple times after death until the match concludes.

In Rainbow Six Siege X’s Dual Front, the gameplay is similar to a “sector capture” mode. The circular map is divided into six distinct areas, three for each team, with each team initially occupying three sectors. The objective of Dual Front is to seize the enemy sector located at the far end of the map. However, teams can only access that sector by first capturing the connecting enemy zones in a sequential order, and only one player can be present in those zones at a time. After a team captures a sector, they must wait 60 seconds before moving on to the next one. Interestingly, both sides of the map are identical, ensuring fairness for all players.

Essentially, Dual Front is a 6v6 format, which means each team aims to have half of its members attack the other team’s zones while the rest defend their own. These matches usually last between 20-25 minutes, making it slightly slower than traditional 5v5 modes. This slow pace, however, makes it more accessible for newcomers. In Dual Front, players can respawn an infinite number of times during a game and switch Operators after each respawn, though they must wait 30 seconds before rejoining the fray. This setup encourages players to try out various playstyles and adapt their strategies throughout a single game.

For seasoned “Rainbow Six Siege” players considering a dismissive attitude towards Dual Front’s enhanced accessibility compared to standard 5v5 modes, it’s essential to understand that it doesn’t make the game easier, only more straightforward. Our team was made up of novice and casual “Siege” players, facing an opponent with two 10-year veterans. Predictably, we lost every encounter. However, this defeat didn’t diminish our enjoyment of Dual Front, as the new mode’s features like regular respawns prevented us from feeling too let down for not meeting expectations because of our shortcomings, and it offered a more lenient gameplay experience overall.

In a typical game mode of “Siege”, once a player dies, they can’t respawn and instead must watch the rest of the round, which can make the loss feel significant. However, Dual Front provides a more casual experience as dying doesn’t mean complete spectatorship for long periods. This also reduces the likelihood of unpleasant behavior due to reduced frustration. Additionally, this mode is beneficial for new players because they spend more time participating in the game rather than just watching it. As for “Rainbow Six Siege X”, it’s introducing enhanced player protection against toxicity, meaning that those who exhibit negative behavior will be penalized, while those who contribute positively to the game community will be recognized and rewarded.

Rainbow Six Siege X’s Modernized 5v5 Maps Breathe New Life Into the Game

In essence, Rainbow Six Siege X wouldn’t be the same without its classic 5v5 modes, which have been updated to enhance immersion and realism. This revamp caters to veterans who get a fresh perspective, while newcomers can enjoy a refreshed take on a game that’s been around for ten years. The graphical updates to the maps not only please the eye but also affect gameplay, making it a beneficial double refurbishment.

In the latest upgrade for Rainbow Six Siege X, the rendering engine has been revamped to create more authentic settings, and the primary surfaces’ materials and resolution have been enhanced to look more lifelike. Furthermore, first-person shadows have now been incorporated into the game, enhancing immersion while providing a strategic advantage in positioning, as players can gauge their visibility better when moving around corners. Moreover, the texture resolutions have been doubled for improved visuals, and the PC version of Siege X will offer an optional 4K resolution texture pack for those seeking top-notch graphics. Lastly, a weapon inspection feature has been included in over 100 weapons, allowing players to admire their weapon skins within the game itself.

In the updated maps of Rainbow Six Siege X, one of the key additions to gameplay is an assortment of new destructible items that significantly enhance the strategy in each play session. Destructible environments have always been a focus in Siege, but these new destructible elements introduce a whole new dimension. For instance, firing at fire extinguishers creates a temporary smoke screen and can even concuss nearby enemies when they detonate. Gas pipes emit fire upon being shot and may eventually explode, leaving a brief patch of fire on the ground. Metal detectors activate when players pass by them, but they can be deactivated temporarily or permanently if needed.

In every map of Rainbox Six Siege, players can now rappel around any corner and swiftly move side-to-side while doing so. This new feature looks significantly improved in Rainbow Six Siege X, as Ubisoft employed motion capture technology to enhance and perfect the animations. The audio experience is also superior in Siege X with its Audio 2.0 system, offering advanced sound propagation and reverberation effects that are easily perceptible. One of the standout features is the precise detection of an opponent’s location, which adds a unique level of engagement to the gameplay. Hearing the rumble of approaching footsteps from all directions, heights, and depths while hidden in a corner waiting for the perfect ambush moment is truly exhilarating.

During the preview of Rainbow Six Siege X, I found myself immersed in the new Dual Front mode for most of my playtime. However, we also had a chance to explore the classic 5v5 Bomb activity. This mode is widely beloved among players, and for good reason – it’s fast-paced and intense!

In this mode, each team defends their bomb site while simultaneously trying to plant or defuse the enemy’s bomb. The pace is quicker than Dual Front, making it a thrilling experience. It’s often the go-to mode for Rainbow Six Siege pros, but with some practice on Dual Front and the game’s tutorials, even newcomers can jump in and enjoy the action!

Final Thoughts

It’s not an exaggeration to suggest that Rainbow Six Siege X might just be the revitalizing boost the game has been lacking for quite a while. To keep up and possibly excel in the future, Rainbow Six Siege needs to recognize its maturity and infuse it with a rejuvenating spirit. That’s exactly what Rainbow Six Siege X aims to do, as evidenced by its new 6v6 Dual Front mode, innovative tactical gameplay elements, and updated maps. From our hands-on experience, it appears that the goal of Rainbow Six Siege X is spot on, setting it on a path for success in the next decade of Rainbow Six Siege.

In this preview, we’ll explore Rainbow Six Siege X, a game that can be played on various platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Game Rant kindly arranged our travel and accommodation for this review.

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2025-03-13 23:27