How Siege X could impact the R6 esports scene

Upcoming changes announced at this year’s Siege X showcase could shake up the Rainbow Six Siege (R6) esports scene.

R6 esports fans will be able to see these changes in action at the upcoming Ubisoft and Blast R6: Reload tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on May 16th to 18th, 2025.

During the Siege X showcase, R6 Creative Director Alexander Kaparzis said: “We are excited to announce that this will be the first Siege competition ever played on Siege X.

“Everything we presented today will be there: the modernised maps, the overhauled audio, the new repel mechanics and the works!”

Siege X introduces a new ban system coming to the ranked Siege Cup and the returning unranked mode.

The current ban system, introduced back in Para Bellum, allowed both teams to ban two attackers and two defenders. These would then be fixed for the rest of the game.

However, in Siege X, each side will be able to ban one operator at the beginning of a round. These would be active until half-time, where the teams would switch and the bans will reset.

Developer Chris Watters explained: “This new system is much faster to get into the action as both attack and defence ban in parallel.

“It also offers more strategic options when planning your next round as you can ban with the knowledge of which site you want to defend or attack.”

Target bans will now be less disruptive near the beginning of games, but the raised total from four to six, on top of a half-time reset, means that teams will need to make further adjustments to comps and game plans to succeed.

Advanced repelling in Siege X allows attackers to sprint on walls and quickly navigate around corners while repelled. This means that window plays in maps such as Bank, Hereford Base, and Kanal will prove more viable against certain bomb sites.

Destructible ingredients are interactable objects in maps, such as fire extinguishers, which create smoke clouds to block vision and stun nearby enemies.

This introduces a new element that pro players will need to memorise on top of rotations, camera placements and strategy. While gunplay and gadgets will be the most influential factor to success, a well-timed gas pipe could delay an enemy push.

During the Siege X showcase, Joshua Mills, R6 Game Director, said: “Destructible ingredients are shaking things up in Siege, bringing fresh tactical opportunities for both attackers and defenders.

“These aren’t just environmental details, they’re strategic tools that swing the outcome of combat engagements in modernised maps and dual front.”

Dual Front was one of the biggest announcements at the Siege X showcase, a brand new 6v6 mode for players to interact with.

It allows both attackers and defenders to fight side by side in a rotating roster. Its larger map scale, multiple objectives and respawn mechanic encourages more aggressive play compared to the current core modes.

While the upcoming Blast R6: Reload tournament will see many features from Siege X, it will not include the Dual Front game mode.

It’s simply too early to tell whether or not Dualfront will ever coexist or replace the traditional bomb defusal mode in the 2025 R6 esports scene.