[Get ready for a fresh take on the Rainbow Six universe with Rainbow Six Tactics, a new turn-based strategy game that blends intense tactical gameplay with the iconic characters and world you know and love.]
A New Kind of Rainbow
Ubisoft is diving deep into the tactical genre with Rainbow Six Tactics, a brand new entry in the beloved franchise. Inspired by the adrenaline-fueled action of Rainbow Six Siege, this game offers a unique single-player experience, putting 15 familiar operators at your command in a turn-based strategy format. We spoke with Martial Potron to delve into the development process, the significance of this genre shift, and what the future holds for the Rainbow Six universe.
Caption: “Plan your assault! Rainbow Six Tactics puts you in command of a squad of operators in turn-based battles.”]]
Potron emphasized the importance of permadeath: “We know that hardcore strategy fans love a challenge. In R6T, we’ve included an optional permadeath feature, along with an ‘Ironman Mode.’ Operators who take too much damage become unavailable for the rest of the campaign. Players can enable this on any difficulty level, adding a layer of tension even in easier playthroughs. This significantly alters the gameplay, as operators are unique and irreplaceable. Losing a favorite or powerful operator forces players to adapt their strategies and rethink team compositions.”
When we pointed out how other major action franchises have successfully transitioned into the tactics genre, like IGN’s example of Gears Tactics, Potron responded: “The most important thing is that the game has to stand on its own. Tactical fans have very high expectations, so R6 Tactics needs to be a strong tactics game first and foremost before it can succeed as a Rainbow Six game. Other games in our franchise have successfully transitioned into different genres because they were built on strong foundations, combined with great design, storytelling, and production values.”
Potron highlighted the key to making this genre shift work: “It’s challenging to transform a game where much of the fun comes from aiming, reacting, and moving quickly. However, Rainbow Six has always been about ‘thinking before acting.’ Our goal wasn’t to force tactics onto Rainbow Six, but rather to express that same tactical mindset in a new genre. The transition was surprisingly smooth because all the core elements were already there: aiming, reconnaissance, breaching, gadgets, and coordination – we just needed to ensure they felt like integral parts of the Rainbow Six experience.”
Caption: “Breaching is back! Utilize tactical tools to create new pathways and outflank your enemies.”]
Potron also explained how references from the entire franchise are woven into the game: “The planning phase of the original Rainbow Six served as inspiration for ‘Breaching,’ a key feature in our game. Players can plan an assault on a location, assigning operators to specific entry points (doors, windows, or destructible walls), and synchronizing explosives, grenades, and fire to take down enemies simultaneously. This is a modern interpretation of that classic feature from the early games. Additionally, players can choose approach routes at the beginning of each mission, determining risk levels and potential dangers. On the narrative side, the reconstruction of Rainbow after its destruction in the events of Siege’s 10th year allows us to connect with the broader story of the franchise, including characters like Paul Bishop. We worked closely with the Rainbow team in Montreal to ensure everything was properly connected.”
Caption: “Plan your every move! Detailed maps and strategic options are at your disposal.”]
We asked about which features from Siege translated well into the tactics genre, and which needed to be reinterpreted. Potron focused on one of Siege’s most iconic features: destruction. “In many tactics games, players have to work with the existing lines of sight. Here, they can create new pathways and angles of attack. However, enemies can do the same, so no position is ever truly safe. This fundamentally changes how players approach combat.”
Potron also explained how the uncertainty that defines Siege was transformed into a turn-based format: “In Siege, danger often comes from not knowing what’s behind a wall, around a corner, or behind a barricade. In R6 Tactics, our dynamic and detailed line of sight system recreates that tension. Careful reconnaissance and drone usage are crucial before attempting a breach. Our goal was to ensure hidden threats felt dangerous without frustrating players.”
Rainbow Six Tactics is slated for release next year on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Get ready to experience the Rainbow universe in a whole new way!
Source: IGN Gaming
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