Rainbow Six Siege, the intense tactical shooter that’s been a staple for a decade, is celebrating its tenth year with a massive update called Rainbow Six Siege X. This new iteration brings a host of changes, updates, and additions to a game already known for its unique blend of strategic defense and explosive offense. It’s a great time to dive in or revisit this classic to see how it stacks up in today’s crowded shooter landscape.
The core of Siege remains incredibly strong, which is fantastic news for long-time fans and newcomers alike. The main game mode, Bomb, pits two teams against each other: one fortifying a position to protect a bomb, the other battling their way in to defuse it. While this objective is familiar in shooters (like Counter-Strike), Siege’s signature mechanics of reinforcing walls, setting traps, and, most importantly, destroying parts of the environment make it stand out. Both sides of this dynamic are a blast – locking down a site with barricades and razor wire feels strategic, while on offense, using gadgets to blow open walls to bypass defenses is immensely satisfying. The game’s fast time-to-kill means smart positioning and planning often trump raw aiming speed, making it a truly tactical experience.
Rainbow Six Siege X operator prepares to breach a wooden wall
The roster of playable characters, called Operators, is impressive with a whopping 75 unique specialists. Each Operator has their own loadout and specific gadgets, catering to vastly different playstyles. Whether you prefer smashing through obstacles with Sledge’s hammer or rapidly repositioning with Oryx’s dash, there’s likely an Operator that fits your style. Interestingly, the Siege X update itself didn’t introduce a brand-new Operator, although the game did add Rauora just a few months prior.
A new mode called Dual Front arrives with Siege X, pitting 6 players against 6, with both teams attacking and defending different sites simultaneously. Unlike Bomb, you can respawn in Dual Front, which might seem beginner-friendly. However, the current single map for this mode is huge, and coupled with the quick time-to-kill, you often spend more time moving around than actually engaging in combat. While respawns could lower the entry barrier, the author found they diluted the high-stakes tension that makes Siege so compelling.
Siege X adopts a limited free-to-play model. You can download and play the core game modes for free, but key competitive modes like Ranked and Siege Cup are locked behind a paywall, requiring an in-game purchase of around $20 USD to access. This approach feels a bit unusual, especially since the game already features a robust store and battle pass system for revenue. It contrasts with titles like Marvel Rivals, which offer full access to modes without upfront cost. The community has long discussed the game’s progression speed and the rate at which new Operators are unlocked, often feeling pushed towards the paid battle pass. The author is still evaluating how Siege X’s revamps impact this progression pace.
One of the most iconic features of Rainbow Six Siege has always been its environmental destruction – punching through walls, breaching ceilings, or blasting through floors. However, despite the cool factor of going “Kool-Aid Man” through some barriers, Siege still has a surprising number of indestructible elements like thick walls, certain windows, and furniture. This limitation feels a bit dated when compared to newer games that allow for much more widespread environmental destruction. For example, the inability to simply blow a hole under a bomb site to drop it through the floor, as you might strategize in a game like The Finals, highlights where Siege’s destruction system could use a refresh after a decade.
Siege’s sound design has always been exceptional, and Siege X makes noticeable improvements. The core sounds of explosions and gunfire remain excellent, but the spatial audio – the ability to pinpoint where sounds are coming from – is truly impressive. It’s always been vital for locating enemies, but the updated soundscape provides even more detail. A significant improvement is the distinction between footsteps above and below you. Learning to differentiate the specific audio cues lets you anticipate enemy movements from different floors, offering a valuable tactical advantage just by paying close attention.
A few smaller, situational upgrades also add nice touches. Rappelling, the ability to hang upside down outside buildings, was always a fun option for flanking, but previously left you exposed. New options to sprint along walls or quickly jump around corners make rappelling much more viable for aggressive plays. Additionally, new destructible environmental objects like gas pipes and fire extinguishers can be shot to create temporary hazards like flames or smoke. While rarely fight-decisive, these add a cool visual flair and minimal area control.
Having spent time with Rainbow Six Siege X, the author is not quite ready for a final verdict but feels it’s a solid step forward. The core tactical gameplay remains deeply engaging, and mastering the large Operator roster offers long-term replayability. The improvements to sound design and rappelling are particularly welcome. The new Dual Front mode still needs more time to be fully assessed, and the limitations of the free-to-play model with locked modes are a point of consideration.
Overall, Siege X is shaping up well and is definitely worth exploring for fans of tactical shooters. Stay tuned for a full review covering all the ins and outs of this ten-year evolution. For more on competitive gaming, check out other shooter reviews like Grey Zone Warfare or FragPunk.
