Rainbow Six Siege X is a sweeping update that marks a new chapter for the tactical shooter franchise. First unveiled at the Siege X Showcase on March 13, 2025, and launching on June 10 as part of Year 10 Season 2: Operation Daybreak, Siege X has arrived with revamped visuals, new audio design, and a fresh take on gameplay that aims to bridge the gap between the series’ hardcore fans and a new generation of players.

I had the chance to spend a few hours with Siege X at IGN Live in Los Angeles, and my early impressions are a mix of excitement and cautious optimism. The new mode, Dual Front, along with the debut map District, delivers a fresh and frenetic take on the familiar Siege formula. But for newcomers, the sheer complexity of the map and operator systems can feel like a steep hill to climb.

Rainbow Six Siege X

A Tactical Revolution: Dual Front Mode
Dual Front is the showpiece of Siege X—a 6v6 mode that breaks with the classic attack/defend format of Rainbow Six Siege. For the first time in the franchise, players can respawn during matches, re-pick operators, and even switch between attacking and defending roles within the same team. With a rotating pool of 35 operators, Dual Front pushes tactical creativity to new heights, opening up possibilities for dynamic mid-match adjustments.

The new mode is set on the sprawling District map, designed specifically for Dual Front’s layered, sector-based gameplay. District features two mirrored lanes and a central Neutral Sector that can be fought over by both teams. The neutral zone also houses secondary objectives, adding an extra layer of strategy to the standard sector control dynamic.

Firsthand Experience: A Map That’s Fun and Formidable
On paper, Dual Front is designed to be more accessible, offering players the chance to adapt and re-enter the fight without the high stakes of permanent elimination. In practice, however, District’s sprawling and symmetrical design proved challenging for a first-timer like me. Well, almost a newcomer. I played Rainbow Six Siege for about a year after it released 10 years ago, so I was somewhat familiar with a few of the operator classes and the attack and defend system.

Defending sectors in Siege X without prior map knowledge was an uphill battle. Even with basic callouts (which was difficult amid the droning din of the IGN Live crowd), it felt easy to get lost in District’s winding hallways and interconnected rooms. The sheer size of the map meant that flanks and rotations were always a threat, making defensive positioning difficult to master in the short time I spent with the game.

And while the curated operator pool streamlined team choices to a manageable selection, the vast differences in operator gadgets and roles could still be intimidating for those less familiar with the game’s deep roster.

Rainbow Six Siege X

The Joy of Experimentation—and the Reality of Overload
There’s no denying the thrill of Siege X’s reimagined gameplay. Respawns allow for aggressive plays that wouldn’t be possible in classic Siege, and switching operator roles mid-match creates dynamic team compositions that feel fresh and innovative.

Yet that same flexibility can be overwhelming for newcomers. Balancing map knowledge, operator gadgets, respawns, and sector objectives all at once is no easy task. My experience was exhilarating but left me wishing for more onboarding tools to ease the transition into this complex new battlefield.

The Future of Siege—and Its Challenges
Ubisoft has made it clear that Siege X isn’t just an update—it’s a statement of intent to keep Rainbow Six Siege alive and evolving. With modernized visuals, a refreshed audio mix, and a more welcoming approach to gameplay, Siege X aims to make the game more accessible to new players while retaining the deep tactical core that’s kept veterans engaged for nearly a decade.