Ubisoft’s flagship tactical shooter game, Rainbow Six Siege, never fails to keep its player base happy and satisfied. While new updates, weapons, and modes are par for the course, the introduction of a new operator always creates a ripple of excitement. And Year 8 Season 3, titled “Heavy Mettle”, is no exception. Welcome to the world, Ram.
From the streets of Korea, Ram, codenamed as such, is set to revolutionize the battleground of Siege. Outfitted with the BU-GI Auto-Breacher, she brings destruction to the forefront.
According to Ubisoft’s official statement, this robotic marvel “tears apart destructible floors, busts through barricades, and wreaks havoc on Defender traps.” Think of it as a buzzsaw but on steroids, designed more in the vein of the likes of Mad Max than a typical stealth tool. While it can steamroll through most obstacles, its Achilles heel is a conspicuously painted red canister, which, in the world of video games, screams ‘target me’.
Ram doesn’t stop at BU-GI either. Her expansive arsenal boasts an MG-E light machine gun, an R4-C assault rifle, and a pair of secondary options like the MK1 9mm pistol and the ITA12S shotgun. The latter will be of particular interest to its fans, given the announced shotgun buff this season. Ubisoft aims to heighten the consistency and reliability of shotguns, albeit slug shotguns remain unaffected by these changes.
While the spotlight might be on Ram, the season, Heavy Mettle, isn’t just about her. Ubisoft has cast a revisionary eye on some familiar faces. Existing operators such as Grim, Fuze, and Frost are poised for a change, tweaking the mechanics of their gadgets.
However, Year 8 Season 3 is more than just operators and weapons. The gameplay itself undergoes significant shifts. For example, the quick match mode sees a transformation aimed at offering a streamlined, fuss-free experience. Reductions in round timers, auto-revealed objective locations, and pre-set reinforcements for bomb sites all aim to smooth out the experience for players. For attackers, the nuisance of spawn peeking will be mitigated with a ten-second invulnerability window.
Finally, in a bid to make gameplay more versatile, the unranked mode gets rebranded to standard mode. The arcade will introduce weapon roulette, a dynamic setting where players get to test their adaptability by having their weapons randomly changed after set intervals.
For newcomers to the Siege universe or those attempting to bring friends into the fold, Ubisoft’s addition of tutorials is a godsend. And for the seasoned player looking to relive or analyze gameplay, HUD can now be turned off during replays, ensuring unobstructed, picturesque captures.
Perhaps one of the most awaited features this season is the player commendation system. This system lets players rate their peers based on a plethora of attributes and actions. Consistent commendations will pave the way for in-game rewards. Ubisoft assures vigilant monitoring to ensure fairness in this system.
In all, Year 8 Season 3 isn’t just another update. It’s a testament to Ubisoft’s commitment to continually reinvigorate the game, constantly pushing boundaries, and enhancing player experiences.
Speaking of Ubisoft, the French publisher recently canceled a sequel to one of this generation’s more underrated titles. Finally, a new director is taking over the Far Cry franchise.
