Rainbow Six Siege, one of the most popular live service games, is finally receiving a highly anticipated feature: crossplay. Released in 2015, Siege revolutionized the FPS genre with its tactical gameplay and destructible environments. While crossplay between consoles has been available, PC players have remained in a separate pool. This is set to change, marking a significant shift for the game nearly a decade after its launch.
Cross-Platform Play Arrives in December
After years of community requests, Ubisoft confirmed that PC and console players will be able to play together starting December 3rd. This implementation addresses a long-standing desire from fans, though concerns regarding the competitive balance between PC and console players have been raised. The precision-based combat of Siege gives an advantage to PC players using mouse and keyboard controls over those using controllers.
PC and Console Matchmaking Details
To address potential balancing issues, Ubisoft has implemented a specific matchmaking system. If a squad includes a PC player, the entire group will be placed in the PC matchmaking pool. This ensures console players aren’t unexpectedly matched against PC players. For Ranked play, console players playing with PC players will have a separate rank progression specifically for the PC pool, protecting their console rank from being significantly affected.
rainbow-six-siege-ram.pngRainbow Six Siege operators preparing to breach.
Addressing Cheating Concerns
The introduction of crossplay naturally raises concerns about PC cheaters impacting the console experience. While Ubisoft hasn’t detailed their anti-cheat measures in this context, the optional nature of crossplay allows console players to avoid the PC pool entirely if desired. This minimizes the potential negative impact of cheaters, maintaining a positive experience for those who prefer to play solely with other console players.
The Future of Rainbow Six Siege
This crossplay update has the potential to revitalize Rainbow Six Siege, allowing for broader player connections and extended community engagement. Players can finally team up with friends across different platforms, strengthening the game’s social aspect as it nears its tenth anniversary. The future of Siege remains unclear, with rumors of a new Rainbow Six title circulating. Whether this crossplay update is a final major addition or a sign of continued long-term support remains to be seen.
Conclusion
The addition of crossplay is a significant milestone for Rainbow Six Siege. While potential challenges exist regarding balancing and cheating, Ubisoft’s approach of making crossplay optional and implementing separate ranking systems aims to mitigate these issues. This update could mark a new chapter for the game, expanding its player base and fostering a more inclusive community. Only time will tell how this change impacts the long-term future of Rainbow Six Siege.
