The Rainbow Six Siege Player Protection team has dedicated significant efforts to address player concerns regarding cheating and toxic behavior in the PvP shooter genre. Over the past year, they have developed two groundbreaking systems known as MouseTrap and QB, which have already made a significant positive impact on the game’s overall health. These systems, along with ongoing research and development, have paved the way for innovative solutions to long-standing issues in the PvP shooter community.
MouseTrap: Deterring Mouse and Keyboard Use on Consoles
MouseTrap, introduced in the mid-season update Operation Commanding Force (Y8S1.2) on April 11th, 2023, has been in effect for nearly three months. This new detection system penalizes players who use Mouse and Keyboard on consoles by introducing additional input latency. The objective is to restore a fair balance of competition and skill in Rainbow Six Siege and discourage the use of unauthorized peripherals.
The initial results of MouseTrap have exceeded expectations. The team estimated a moderate reduction of 30% to 50% in the number of Mouse and Keyboard users, but the actual data shows a significant reduction of 78% in total spoofers detected in Rainbow Six Siege. In Ranked mode alone, there has been a 73% decrease in the number of spoofers. After receiving a penalty from MouseTrap, 43% of the penalized players have chosen to either switch back to using their controllers or migrate to PC.
The success of MouseTrap has encouraged players who were hesitant to engage in Ranked matches on consoles due to the prevalence of Mouse and Keyboard users. With the reduction in the number of unauthorized peripheral users, Rainbow Six Siege now offers a more balanced and fair playing field.
The development team is actively working on resolving reported issues with MouseTrap to ensure its continued effectiveness.
QB: Effective Anti-Cheat Measures on PC
QB, an anti-cheat feature introduced on November 8th, 2022, aims to make cheat development more challenging. Since its implementation, over 10,000 cheaters have been banned from Rainbow Six Siege. Additionally, several cheat vendors have ceased creating cheats for Siege following the deployment of QB. The community has expressed positive feedback regarding their improved in-game experience.
Continuous monitoring and evaluation of QB are ongoing to identify areas for further improvement. The team remains dedicated to maintaining a cheat-free environment for players.
Reputation Penalties: Combating Toxicity
The Rainbow Six Siege Player Protection team has prioritized reducing in-game toxicity caused by abusive behavior, including friendly fire and unwanted communications. Starting from March 8th, 2023, players who engage in voice chat abuse receive penalties after two warnings. These penalties result in their voice chat being muted by default for the next 30 matches. This penalty complements the written chat penalty introduced in Year 7 (October 2022).
The intention behind these penalties is to discourage unwanted communication and negative behavior by providing players with in-game warnings and feedback on how they are perceived by others. The data collected thus far indicates that the penalties have been effective, with 50% of players who received a first warning for voice or written chat abuse refraining from further abusive behavior.
The Reputation System, which includes penalties for reverse friendly fire, will continue to evolve in Year 9. The team aims to expand the coverage of the system, ensuring player safety and enjoyment.
Upcoming Features in Year 8
The Rainbow Six Siege development team is committed to providing a safe and fair gaming environment for all players. Several features are currently in development to strengthen player protection throughout Year 8:
Player Commendation System (New)
In the upcoming Y8S3 (Autumn 2023) update, the Player Commendation System will be introduced. This system aims to promote positivity within the community by allowing players to recognize and commend others based on their in-game experiences. It serves as an appreciative feature, fostering a supportive and friendly atmosphere among players.
Reputation System (Update)
The Reputation System will undergo various updates throughout the year. The recent Y8S2 update already brought improvements to the Reputation Penalty user interface. Ongoing rebalancing efforts will continue to support the system. In Y8S3 and Y8S4, new features will be introduced to enhance players’ understanding of their Reputation Standing and provide additional opportunities for interaction within the system. These updates seek to further enhance player experiences and maintain a healthy in-game environment.
Privacy Mode on Console (New)
Following its successful implementation on PC in Year 7 (Y7S2 Operation Vector Glare), the Privacy Mode feature will be made available on consoles before the end of Year 8. Privacy Mode aims to protect streamers and players seeking additional privacy during their in-game sessions.
Ranked Requirements (Update)
Phone number validation has been successfully implemented as a measure to protect the competitive integrity of Ranked matches. However, the team’s work on safeguarding Ranked gameplay continues. Throughout Year 8 and 9, additional measures will be introduced to address smurfing and reinforce the foundations of fair competition. These initiatives will not only support the ongoing Anti-Cheat efforts but also encourage returning players to rediscover Rainbow Six Siege before engaging in competitive gameplay. Detailed information about these updates will be revealed later this year.
Moving Forward
The Rainbow Six Siege Player Protection team has made significant progress in addressing player concerns regarding cheating and toxic behavior. The introduction of MouseTrap and QB has resulted in a substantial reduction in the use of unauthorized peripherals and the banning of thousands of cheaters. The implementation of Reputation Penalties has successfully deterred toxic behavior, promoting a more positive in-game environment.
Looking ahead to Year 8, the team is committed to continuously improving player protection. The upcoming features, including the Player Commendation System, Reputation System updates, Privacy Mode on consoles, and further enhancements to Ranked requirements, aim to reinforce fair play, encourage positive interactions, and ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all Rainbow Six Siege players.
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Microsoft Windows, Amazon Luna
