Four months post the introduction of the X update to the team-based shooter Rainbow Six Siege, Ubisoft has taken a moment to reflect on its journey since transitioning to a free-to-play model. The company acknowledges that its communication regarding ongoing developments has not been as clear as it could have been.
Player Engagement and Challenges
The X update has undeniably invigorated player engagement, with concurrent players on Steam surging from over 66,000 on June 9 to more than 142,000 the following day, according to SteamDB. While the overall sentiment remains “very positive,” recent reviews have turned “mixed,” with an alarming rise in cheating being a predominant concern. Ubisoft’s latest communication reveals that their systems in Siege X struggled to keep pace with the influx of cheaters that accompanied the free access model, although they report some progress in addressing these issues.
While specifics on enhanced anti-cheat measures are scarce—primarily to avoid alerting cheat developers—Ubisoft representatives Mills and Karpazis outlined a strategy that includes targeting “high profile cheat makers” and users of a particularly notorious cheat product. The plan also aims to disrupt exploits within the Siege X marketplace and implement permanent bans for offenders.
Ubisoft’s approach mirrors successful legal actions taken by other gaming companies against cheat developers. For instance, Bungie’s recent victory over Aimjunkies resulted in a .4 million judgment, while Activision secured over .5 million against EngineOwning last year. With a significant free-to-play title now in its portfolio, Ubisoft appears poised to adopt a more aggressive stance against cheating.
Future Directions
In addition to combating cheating, Ubisoft is re-evaluating its balancing strategies to enhance player enjoyment, emphasizing a shift towards more buffs and fewer nerfs. Significant adjustments to Ranked play are also on the agenda, alongside plans to enrich mid-season updates in Siege X seasons.
Mills and Karpazis noted that the latest update is not exhaustive but assured players that more information will be forthcoming. They encouraged the community to continue providing feedback, stating, “Your passion and commitment keep Siege growing. Your priorities are our priorities, and together we’ll keep building Siege into the best it can be.”
