The Long-Awaited Return: Unveiling the Game-Changing Feature Rainbow Six Has Been Missing for Two Decades

Highlights

The Rainbow Six franchise has come a long way since its debut in 1998, evolving into a more accessible first/third-person shooter.

Rainbow Six Siege, despite its success, is missing the beloved original planning phase feature that fans enjoyed in earlier games. In order to enhance the tactical experience, the upcoming Rainbow Six game should incorporate a revamped planning phase. This can be implemented either in a single-player format or as a simultaneous component in multiplayer.

The Rainbow Six franchise has had an intriguing journey thus far. It made its debut in 1998 as a challenging tactical shooter, incorporating complex mechanics and systems for players to navigate. Over time, the series became more approachable, simplifying its intricate features, yet remaining an enjoyable first/third-person shooter among fans.

Presently, the Rainbow Six franchise is best recognized for its 2015 multiplayer soft reboot, Rainbow Six Siege. Although Siege effectively modernized the original essence of the series for multiplayer gameplay, it might not capture the traditional tactical shooter experience that initially captivated many fans. Consequently, for the upcoming iteration of Rainbow Six, whether multiplayer or single-player, it is crucial to reintroduce a feature absent from the franchise since 2003.

The Next Rainbow Six Should Bring Back The Planning Phase

In any Rainbow Six game, players are tasked with infiltrating a primary target location. These can vary from a mansion to a yacht to a skyscraper. Regardless of the location, players are given time to strategize before diving straight into action. In Rainbow Six Siege, this happens in real-time during the Preparation Phase. Attackers can use drones to locate their targets, while Defenders set up devices and gadgets to defend against the approaching Attackers. However, in the earlier Rainbow Six games, this process was more intricate.

Known as the Planning Phase, this feature is present in every Rainbow Six game starting from the first installment up to Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield. The original Planning Phase showcases a top-down image of the mission map. From here, players can select their AI squads and command their movements and actions. These commands can range from simple instructions such as surrounding a door to more complex tactics like using explosives or reacting aggressively when encountering enemies.

The Planning Phase, although not the most intricate feature, holds a significant place in the original Rainbow Six series. While Rainbow Six Siege incorporates a version of it, it would be highly desirable to witness its authentic return in the upcoming installment. In the next Rainbow Six game, Ubisoft has various approaches to reintroducing the classic Planning Phase, contingent on whether it is a single-player or multiplayer experience. If the next Rainbow Six leans towards single-player, the Planning Phase can be faithfully adapted from the original series, albeit with added and slightly more intricate choices for AI squad reactions and behaviors.

However, the more probable scenario is that the next Rainbow Six game will continue to embrace multiplayer, given the immense success of Rainbow Six Siege over the past eight years. In a multiplayer context, the Planning Phase could still be reintroduced but might necessitate modifications to ensure its compatibility with real-time gameplay. One approach is to run the Planning Phase concurrently with the Preparation Phase, allocating most of the time for players to employ their drones as usual, while granting one player the chance to inspect the map and sketch a rudimentary attack plan.