Ubisoft has recently announced the highly anticipated second season of Rainbow Six Siege’s Year 8, titled Operation Dread Factor. Set to launch on May 30, this exciting new season brings forth a plethora of thrilling additions, including a new Swedish Operator, a map rework for the Consulate, and several significant gameplay updates. Operation Dread Factor promises to inject a fresh wave of excitement into the already intense world of Rainbow Six Siege.
One of the highlights of this season is the introduction of Fenrir, a tactical Defender hailing from Sweden. Equipped with the F-NATT Dread Mine gadget, Fenrir’s strategic placement of this shadowy device releases a Fear Effect gas that temporarily limits an opponent’s field of view. This innovative gadget allows players to disrupt enemy attacks, monitor entry points, and provide temporary flank coverage. Fenrir is a versatile Operator, with a two-speed, two-health profile. Players can choose between the MP7 or the SASG-12 as a primary weapon, and the BAILIFF 410 as a secondary weapon.
Furthermore, the Consulate map receives a comprehensive rework in Operation Dread Factor. With a complete transformation of all floors and sites, the reworked Consulate aims to deliver a more balanced, complex, and rewarding gameplay experience. The adjustments to Attacker spawns specifically target reducing frustration and increasing safety, ensuring there are fewer vulnerable locations outdoors and allowing Attackers to navigate from the spawn location to the building more easily. The revitalized Consulate map offers variety in every match, inspiring players to develop new tactics and master their approach.
In addition to Operator and map updates, Rainbow Six Siege’s Year 8 Season 2 introduces several significant gameplay improvements. The Shooting Range, the ultimate testing and training grounds for players, receives an exciting addition with the inclusion of a new Aiming Lane. This specialized lane allows players to hone their skills with any weapon, offering customizable training options such as various target types, movement speeds, and distances. The update also introduces a breakable wall, enabling players to test the destructive capabilities of different weapons. Furthermore, a new permanent playlist arrives this season, allowing players to engage in quick and unique matches in Arcade modes whenever they prefer. The playlist includes beloved returning game modes like Headshots Only, Snipers Only, Golden Gun, and Deathmatch, and introduces a new game mode called Free for All.
Balancing updates form an essential part of Operation Dread Factor. This season introduces a new gadget, the Observation Blocker, designed for intel denial. The digital barrier projected by this gadget obstructs the line of sight of opponent drones and Observation Tools, rendering Operators and devices on the other side invisible. It is worth noting that this barrier is only visible when viewed through a drone or an Observation Tool and remains invisible to Operators. Furthermore, Grim, a popular Operator, receives balancing improvements to his gadget, the Kawan Hive Launcher. These changes include faster swarm charge release, increased chances of catching a nearby Defender, larger and longer-lasting swarms, and reduced tracking time after a Defender steps out of the swarm.
Operation Dread Factor doesn’t stop there. This season introduces new controller layouts with alternate inputs for shooting, crouching, and leaning, aiming to enhance comfort and accessibility for all players. Additionally, the Free Camera in Match Replay feature allows players to utilize a free camera while watching their replays, enabling them to view recorded footage from any angle and create captivating content. Furthermore, Squad members now have the ability to inform the Squad leader of their readiness to play, bypassing the remaining timer and initiating matchmaking promptly.
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Microsoft Windows, Amazon Luna
