UPDATE: The new season is LIVE!
You can check out everything about the update below, or find the new patch notes here.
Rainbow Six Siege keeps growing, and we know more about its sixth year of content than we have about any year prior.
That doesn't mean there aren't plenty of surprises in store, though. Ubisoft has held back plenty of information to ensure they keep our interest piqued throughout 2021.
Having successfully launched Crimson Heist and new operator Flores earlier this year, all eyes are turning to the next operation, North Star.
Thankfully, we now have a bit more official intel, so here's what we do know about Y6S2 of Rainbow Six Siege.
Read More: Rainbow Six Siege Year 6 Preview: New Operators, Map Reworks and More Revealed
Latest News
New story trailer - June 12th
Check out the latest story trailer, introducing Thunderbird.
Operation North Star Trailer
Check out the latest trailer below:
Operation North Star Release Date
The new Operation begins on June 14.
If you can't wait that long, it'll arrive on the game's test servers (free for PC players) on May 25.
New Operator and Gadget
With Crimson Heist's Flores being an attacker, new addition Thunderbird is a defender.
A healer, Thunderbird's gadget, the Kona Station, can heal and overheal teammates, and even help them up when they're down but not out.
The Kona Station can be destroyed, but Attackers can also use it to help them heal, too, although there is a cooldown.
Her loadout comprises the Spear.308 assault rifle or SPAS-15 semi-automatic shotgun, the Bearing 9 machine pistol or Q-929 handgun, and impact grenades or a nitro cell.
Map Rework
Favela is getting a huge rework, with the interior essentially entirely rebuilt but remaining within the map's exterior footprint.
It's also switched to nighttime, with a fireworks display.
Most of the exterior walls are no longer destructible, either.
Playlist Changes
The game's newcomer playlist has recently been changed to help introduce players to new maps more quickly.
Previously a fixed trio of maps, players will now be able to jump into the following:
- Bank
- Oregon
- Club House
- Cafe Dostoyevsky
- Coastline
Additionally, the "seasonal map" will be part of the rotation – so for in Operation 2 of Year 6, you'll see Favela enter the rotation.
Quality of Life Changes
Barrel Attachments:
Barrel attachments now have clearer benefits and descriptions.
Bullet Holes:
A single shot will no longer create a peephole, preventing players from shooting through tiny gaps in levels.
Operator Tweaks:
- Melusi: Melusi's gadget can now be shot when it's active and open.
- Mira: Mira's windows can be smashed to decrease visibility.
- Maestro: Maestro's cameras will be able to be shattered with a melee attack when open.
- Smoke: Smoke's toxic grenades will now be more readable and work with a new propagation system that means smoke will move more realistically through vents and windows, but shouldn't be as liable to float through solid walls and floors.
More:
Players can look forward to dead teammates being more clearly identified by a more readable icon above their corpse.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Rainbow Six Siege and Gaming News page.