“Competitive is in Siege’s DNA” –  Exclusive interview with game director for Siege X

As Siege X releases around the world, Esports Insider sat down with game director for Rainbow Six Siege, Joshua Mills, to discuss how the upgraded title will affect the competitive scene in Ubisoft’s tactical shooter.

We asked a variety of questions relating to the esports tab, underrated operators, and where Siege could go next, so here’s what the game director had to say.

Though Rainbow Six Siege has a roster with dozens of unique characters, only a handful of operators see regular use in competitive play. Ubisoft implemented a new pick and ban system in Siege X, so pro players will have to adapt to using a wider range of characters.

Mills told Esports Insider that the pick and ban system will offer new opportunities for underutilised operators to shine: “Our new pick and ban system is massively huge for Siege. We got to see a lot of that at play at RE:L0:AD. The ban system has definitely opened up new possibilities.”

Mills also stressed how many of the operators in Siege can perform multiple roles at once, so removing a major player from the character pool will force competitors to test new strategies.

“Some of the operators have cross-roles, where they kind of share it with others, but if you start taking them off the board, then you’re going into these deeper picks. It’s going to be really exciting to see.”

The pick and ban system is arguably the biggest addition to competitive play in Siege X, and Mills is confident that it’ll create fresh new ways to experience the decade-old FPS.

Siege X will have an in-game esports tab, which could help to bridge the divide between casual and pro players. Fans will soon be able to watch live Siege matches directly in the game, so many players will pick up on competitive strategies that aren’t often used in everyday matches.

“Making esports have that place within the game is incredibly important for us. For one, competitive is in Siege’s DNA. But then, players having access to the esports tab opens up how they’re going to play, and the level of thought process will go up.”

According to Mills, don’t expect to see this change in player skill for at least a few months, as the time frame between strategies used in esports being accepted by the average player often takes time.

“Six to nine months is how long it takes for a strategy that showed up in the pro league to show up in ranked matches. That’s usually what we see,” explained Mills.

The built-in esports hub may accelerate the pace for learning pro strategies, but regardless, it’ll surely help create a more informed player base overall.

Siege X’s biggest day-one content drop is Dual Front, a game mode with the ability to respawn and choose your operator regardless of team role. Mills told ESI that fans have already begun sharing their excitement for the new experience, especially since it’ll help beginners transition into Siege’s competitive gameplay.

“When we talk with our veteran players, Dual Front is a great way for them to take a break from ranked matches. It’s also a good way to introduce friends to Siege.

“We’ve had lots of people asking us about making Dual Front ranked as well. Competitive is in the DNA, and no matter what we give our players, they’re going to get competitive in it.”

Dual Front will create a middle ground that both experienced players and beginners can enjoy, so it’ll allow new gamers to jump into the fun without facing a punishing rule set.

Siege has found its niche in the tactical shooter genre over the last decade, but 2022’s Rainbow Six Siege Extraction offered a fresh gameplay format, allowing players to engage in matches of co-op PvE with a selection of fan-favourite operators. However, there still hasn’t been a single-player story game that uses Siege as a framework.

When asked about the possibility of a battle royale or story-based Siege game, Mills expressed optimism towards the idea of expanding the Siege universe into other genres: “I think with the work that we’ve done within the universe of Siege and the fact that we’re integrating more of this into Dual Front with our neutral sector assignments, and if you look at our comics, Siege is rich enough that there’s plenty of stuff we could build.”

Mills is a fan of Siege’s universe and in-game lore, so the possibility of further innovation is higher than you might expect. “As a ridiculous fan of the operators, I always want to see what they’re doing. I have a huge appetite for the lore of Siege, but I truly believe that our team has crafted such an incredible world to pull from that we’re just scratching the surface of what we can do.”

Our impression after speaking with Mills is that the future is bright, not just for Siege X, but for the franchise as a whole.

The interview ended with Mills expressing deep gratitude towards the Rainbow Six Siege community. “For our current Siege community who have been here for the last 10 years, it’s a huge thank you. Siege is nothing without our players, and I want to make sure we stress that. We have systems and cool features, but the player imprint is what makes it all come to life.”

Though Ubisoft has given players the tools they need to succeed, it’s fans who find new ways to utilise their favourite operators and weapons. As Siege X launches, there’ll be more content than ever before, and players will surely find exciting new ways to outplay the competition.