Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege: A Comprehensive Guide to the Tactical FPS

Released in 2015, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege (R6) is a tactical first-person shooter developed by Ubisoft Montreal. The game stands out for its focus on strategic, team-based matches and its unique emphasis on environmental destruction.

Players take on the roles of either attackers or defenders in various game modes like hostage rescue, bomb defusal, and area control. Originally launched on PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One, it was later upgraded for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in December 2020.

Critics praised its intense multiplayer and strong tactical elements. While initial sales were modest, the player base boomed thanks to Ubisoft’s ‘game as a service’ model and consistent free content drops.

Constant updates led to Siege being hailed as one of the best modern multiplayer games by many. Its partnership with the ESL boosted its esports scene, and by December 2020, Rainbow Six Siege had over 70 million registered players across all platforms.

This article dives into the game’s journey, gameplay, development, impact on the industry, and some fun facts. Read on to discover why Rainbow Six Siege became a milestone among tactical shooters.

Development of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

Rainbow Six Siege’s development kicked off in January 2013, taking a different path from its predecessor project, Rainbow Six: Patriots. Announced in 2011, Patriots had a heavy focus on narrative but got stuck due to an outdated engine, leadership changes, and technical limitations on seventh-gen consoles.

Seizing the potential of the new console generation, Ubisoft canceled Patriots and assembled a new team to reimagine the series. The goal was to deliver tense showdowns between attackers and defenders, strictly multiplayer-focused, so the solo campaign was dropped.

Led by Ubisoft Montreal, with support from other studios, the project was originally called Rainbow Six Unbreakable to signify the team’s determination.

Authenticity mattered—a lot. The developers studied real-world counterterror operations like the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege in London, the 1977 Lufthansa Flight 181 hijacking, and the 2002 Moscow theater hostage crisis. Consulting with units like GIGN helped make things authentic.

The RealBlast Destruction engine powered the game’s highly realistic environmental damage. They brought in physics-based rendering and subtle visual cues for better immersion.

The core pillars—teamwork, tactics, and tension—influenced all design choices. Respawn was removed, upping the stakes for careful, coordinated play. The “3C Golden Rules”—character, camera, and crosshair control—were made to ensure seamless, intuitive gameplay.

Features like solo AI missions, a map editor, and hit markers were scrapped to keep the gameplay competitive and realistic.

Gameplay of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

As a first-person shooter, R6 lets players choose from a ton of Rainbow team Operators, each with unique nationality, weapons, and gadgets. The game is asymmetric—teams don’t have the same skills.

Operators and cosmetics can be unlocked with Renown (in-game currency you earn by playing or doing challenges). You can also buy R6 Credits with real money to speed things up. Boosters can temporarily boost your Renown gains.

Before each round, attackers and defenders pick their spawn points. Attackers get 45 seconds to scout the map with drones, while defenders set up defenses and try to take out enemy drones. Communication is vital since there’s no respawn during a round.

When eliminated, players go into “Support Mode,” helping their teammates via cameras and intel. Rounds last 3 minutes, 30 seconds in casual mode, or 3 minutes in ranked.

Environmental destruction is huge—players can blow through walls, floors, and ceilings, creating new paths and tactical opportunities. Bullets lose damage across surfaces.

Defenders can use barricades and shields, but they’re vulnerable to explosives and certain gadgets. Vertical play is big too, with rappelling and breaching floors/ceilings.

Grenades and gadgets are limited, so use them wisely.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege in Esports

To help the game thrive competitively, Ubisoft teamed up with ESL and actively sought feedback on balance. Inspired by games like Dota 2, which have tons of characters, Siege kept adding new Operators to keep things fresh for players and viewers alike.

In March 2016, ESL and Ubisoft officially announced the Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Pro League for Windows and Xbox One. European team PENTA Sports won the first season.

Besides the league, Ubisoft organizes the annual Six Invitational as its main event. In 2018, the Invitational hit 321,000 Twitch viewers. While Rainbow Six hasn’t surpassed Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in viewership, it’s become a solid competitive contender.

From 2016 to 2024, about $50 million was awarded in prizes according to Esports Earnings. Since 2020, the Six Invitational has boasted the franchise’s biggest prize pools, reaching $3 million split among 16 teams.

Brazil’s a powerhouse in Siege esports—NiP won Worlds in Paris (2021), W7M took it in 2024, and FaZe Clan in Boston (2025). The 2025 tourney averaged 130,000 live viewers.

Fun Facts About Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

Check out these cool Rainbow Six Siege tidbits:

• Constant updates: New Operators, maps, and tweaks roll out regularly, keeping the game fresh and competitive.
• Active community: Tons of engaged players, regular tournaments, popular streamers, and special events like the Six Invitational.
• Unique abilities: Each Operator has a game-changer ability; for example, Hibana blows through walls from a distance, and Caveira exposes enemy locations.
• “Situations” Mode: Served as a tutorial at launch to teach players the basics.
• Literary roots: The franchise is inspired by Tom Clancy’s books, sticking to the tactical ops theme (but not following specific plots).
• Brazilian Operators: Caveira and Capitão represent Brazil as BOPE members.
• Themed events: Modes like “Halloween” and “Zombie” shake things up with unique looks and mechanics for a limited time.
• Crossplay and cross-progression: Added in 2022, letting folks play across platforms within the same generation and keep their progress.
• LGBTQ+ representation: Operators like Osa (a trans engineer) and Sens (non-binary) are in the roster.
• Maps inspired by real places: Some maps are modeled after landmarks like the Eiffel Tower (France), Favela (Brazil), and Consulate (Morocco).

For more, check out the original article: What is Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege? – IE Games