Learning Teamwork in 'Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege'

Originally announced back in June of 2014, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege is a first-person shooter focused on operators from Rainbow team, a counter-terrorism unit. Each of these operators have a different set of abilities, equipment, and come from a variety of national backgrounds.

Last week, Rainbow Six Siege opened up its closed beta program and let hundreds enter the tactical playground. Many were expecting a first-person shooter with some new military equipment to play around with, but the key to success in Siege revolves around something different: team communication.

Each operative in Siege focuses on attack or defense, carrying a unique gadget such as a sledgehammer for breaching doors or a shield for protecting the team from enemy fire. Not only do these work to force teamwork, but they are all roles that involve continuous communication.

Certain operatives are invaluable to your team, such as the few who can carry ballistic shields. Not only do these help provide protection when you enter a room, but they also allow you to shield teammates coming in behind you. However, you must be communicating with your teammates to make sure your back is clear and they are utilizing equipment such as stun grenades to disorient enemies in the room you are clearing. Otherwise? The situation can go downhill within seconds.

Dedicated roles like these were incorporated into every operative in the game by the developers at Ubisoft Montreal and the result of this development decision led to a closed beta testing period filled with player communication, whether it be through text or voice chat. Most players were fulfilling a dedicated role with their operative of choice and keeping each other informed as they moved room to room.

Honestly, it’s a refreshing experience to see complete strangers communicating in a shooter.

Ever since the introduction of party chat on video game consoles, many players have elected to chat with their friends privately instead of communicating with their team. This frequently caused a lack of teamwork among players in popular shooters like Battlefield and Call of Duty, which led to developers tailoring their games for personal achievement instead of a team-oriented focus.

But taking a step back from the main market might just pay off for Ubisoft.

Veteran Rainbow Six fans are flocking to Siege, working to establish competitive teams for when the game launches in December this year.

“I like how the game focuses on teamwork, encouraging strategy over skill in many situations,” said Rainbow veteran Christoper Strickland. “It slows down the speed of modern shooters to a thinking man’s pace, creating a level of suspense rivaled by few other games on the market.”

Strickland, who has been playing the series since Rainbow Six first came out in 1998, welcomes a return to form in the modern shooter market.

“I love how their approach is setting them apart from other shooters currently available, where speed is valued over quality,” said Strickland. “But it’s a game that will probably struggle if not adopted early and marketed correctly.”

And market Siege Ubisoft has, with many trailers featuring celebrities, internet personalities, and even professional football players. But will the focus on teamwork and a return to form make a difference when the game releases in December? Many who have played the beta certainly think so.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege releases December 1 on Xbox One, PS4, and PC.