Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six Siege has enjoyed nearly a decade of success, recently setting a new all-time concurrent player record on Steam in March with over 201,000 players. However, the recent announcement of a new subscription service, R6 Membership, has sparked controversy among the game’s community.
R6 Membership, priced at $10 per month or $80 annually, promises exclusive content drops, animated skins, and premium battle pass access. Despite these enticing offers, many players are not pleased with this new monetization strategy.
The upcoming Year 9 Season 2 update will feature significant changes, including a complete remaster of the Recruit, Rainbow Six Siege’s original operator. The Recruit will receive a new look and new archetypes for both attacking and defending roles, allowing for two different gadgets depending on the chosen role. Instead of introducing a new operator this season, premium battle pass owners will receive a voucher redeemable for any current operator. Players who already own all operators will receive 600 R6 Credits instead.
Balancing changes are also part of the update, with defenders Fenrir and Solis receiving nerfs. Fenrir’s F-Natt Dread Mines have been reduced to four and are no longer bulletproof, while Solis’ SPEC-IO sensor will have its duration and range decreased. Additionally, a new Endless Drill mode is being introduced, allowing players to hone their skills without facing human opponents. Various other updates and tweaks are also planned.
Despite these enhancements, the introduction of the R6 Membership has overshadowed the update, drawing significant criticism. Subscribers will receive monthly content drops including a time-limited Legendary item, an Epic operator bundle, monthly cosmetic “Bravo packs,” and full access to the premium Battle Pass with 10 level skips.
On Reddit, user I-Am-Bodge reported that the crowd at the announcement broke into chants of “robbing bastards,” reflecting widespread frustration. Many players are discontented with the introduction of this new subscription amid a perceived lack of substantial content in the new season and ongoing issues with cheaters. Comparisons to Fortnite’s Crew subscription service have also been unfavourable.
“I understand they took [the] idea from Fortnite with its Crew membership,” wrote Redditor SlipstreamSpace117. “But [the] difference is, Fortnite is [a] free to play game, and R6 is not.”
As Ubisoft moves forward with its plans, it remains to be seen how the community’s feedback will influence future developments in Rainbow Six Siege.
