First-person shooters (FPS) have become quite stale within the eSports scene lately, and many believe it’s time for something new. Thankfully, Ubisoft Montreal has been developing the answers to our needs with the upcoming release of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six® Siege. The closed beta is currently live until Oct. 4, and it’s been quite a blast, literally.
We last saw the game featured during Ubisoft’s press conference at the Electronic Entertainment Expo back in June, where the developers showcased multiple gameplay trailers. The game’s mechanics, environment, and returning co-operative multiplayer game mode, Terrorist Hunt, seem to have caught the eye of many competitive gaming enthusiasts. The Rainbow Six® video game franchise has stepped its foot in the door of eSports in the past, especially throughout the prime times of Rainbow Six®: Vegas (2006) and Rainbow Six®: Vegas 2 (2008), and is definitely not afraid of making a comeback with Siege’s release in early December. So far, Ubisoft and its partners seem be to making the game look competitively-based, and I, along with many others, are excited for a fresh contender.The game is eSports-based
If R6S becomes an eSport, it would be joining the ranks of both the familiar Battlefield® 4 and Counter-Strike®: Global Offensive titles as a five vs. five competitive first-person shooter. Siege Game Designer Andrew Witts believes that having 10 players in-game will create a “tight teamplay experience where communication and cooperation is vital to success on both attack and defense.” It’s hard not to agree with Witts; the game’s layout forces you into close quarters combat (CQC) scenarios, where team communication and coordination will play an important role. Players who utilize teamwork through both strategy and creativity will succeed in this game, in contrast to the familiar run-and-gun operators in other FPS games. With the abilities to blockade and reinforce windows, doors, and walls/ceilings; set wire-traps and explosives; and the ability to hide behind mobile barriers as a defender, being able to plan ahead as an attacker will be crucial before rounds commence.



What does Siege lack?
As far as we know, private lobbies will be included within the official release of the game on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows PC’s. The question is: will they be customizable? Currently, it takes three rounds to win a game. Obviously, that’s way too short for a competitive match when games like Counter-Strike last for around 30 rounds. Having the option to alter settings such as banning weapons, lengthening or shortening rounds, etc. will allow tournament hosts to determine an eSports ruleset very quickly, with players exposing overpowered items and unfair regulations. This will only improve a possible eSports experience that we expect to see in R6S. On another note, Siege has no campaign. Yes, you’re paying $60 for a multiplayer-only game. It’s questionable. On the bright side, as an eSports competitor, you’ll be likely to see more game updates and fixes to issues within the game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv3kOiz4Y2Y Fortunately, we’re also provided with “Terrorist Hunt,” a cooperative gamemode where you and four other friends can face off against 20-30 terrorist bots, who are hidden within the main building. What most people (like myself originally) didn’t know, is that you can play this alone in the “Lone Wolf” option. It’s a lot harder than you think but tons of fun, especially on the “Realistic Difficulty,” which is really hard to beat alone. All in all, Rainbow Six Siege’s closed beta was a breath of fresh air. Hopefully the game will become a top-end eSport within the near future. You can preorder the game now for $59.96 on Amazon.com. The game releases on Dec. 1, 2015.
What are your thoughts on Rainbow Six® Siege most likely becoming an eSport? Let us know. Follow @eSportsNation for more coverage on the competitive gaming realm.