Ubisoft Strips Vulkan API From Rainbow Six Siege

As a dedicated Rainbow Six Siege player with countless hours under my belt, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment upon learning about the removal of Vulkan API from the game. It was a feature that truly enhanced the visual experience for many PC gamers like myself, especially those with multi-core processors and lower-end gaming rigs.

In a recent update, Ubisoft has taken out the Vulkan API from Rainbow Six Siege, leaving some players unaware when they attempt to run the game on their PCs for the first time. This change occurred alongside the release of Operation Twin Shells (Y9S3), but it was only briefly mentioned in the patch notes without providing much context or explanation.

What is Vulkan in Rainbow Six?

It’s more like what was Vulkan in Rainbow Six Siege…

The Vulkan API was a graphics-based API that provided various visual enhancements to PC players, especially those utilising multi-core processors. It promoted smoother frame rates and helped those using lower-end gaming rigs, and it had been in the game since 2020 – until it was unceremoniously removed by Ubisoft.

On Reddit, representatives of Ubisoft provided more context:

In accordance with our Update Log, players can opt for DX11 as a mode to play the game currently. Some of you might be wondering about this decision, so let me explain the reasoning behind it.
Fundamentally, this choice revolves around technology, aimed at enhancing Siege’s future prospects and ensuring its technical aspects harmonize both within Ubisoft and with external tech. Additionally, it offers the advantage of streamlining resources, enabling us to concentrate more on improving the game itself.
Considering the numerous PC system setups out there, we’ll address any concerns brought up by the community during our continuous development to provide an optimal experience. Keep in mind that due to API modifications, it’s advisable to make new desktop shortcuts for the DirectX12 or DirectX11 game executables if you’re currently launching the game using a shortcut directly.

As a passionate fan, I’ve unfortunately found myself in a challenging position due to the performance issues that have been surfacing amongst our gaming community. One fellow player penned down their concerns, stating: ‘Given the recurring crashes and black loading screens with the DX11 version, not forgetting other bugs such as the game causing Blue Screens of Death (BSoDs), I can’t help but question the wisdom behind this decision.’

To most people, it appears as a significant step back – the general opinion tends to suggest that this is a major setback for Ubisoft.

Have you tried playing Rainbow Six Siege since this change was deployed?

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