Love it or hate it, Rainbow Six: Siege continues to be one of the most enduring competitive shooters on current platforms. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Ubisoft have been hard at work on a new version suited for next-gen consoles with a whole host of upgrades creating more refined and intense matches.
Demanding superhuman reflexes and perfect performance, Siege’s assortment of enhancements should come as welcome news to console players who have been stuck on outdated hardware and want to up their game. From frame-rate boosts to extra tactility in the controls, there’s a lot to look forward to.
10 Cross-Save
Cross-progression is practically an essential for any multiplayer games making the move to next-gen but it’s a relief that Siege confirmed the news regardless. If you have a physical copy and a PS5 with a disc drive, the process is as easy as downloading the new version from the disc.
Alternatively, digital owners should find the PS5 upgrade option in their game library. All of your favorite operators and weapons will carry over seamlessly so you don’t have to worry about starting from scratch on PS5.
9 Cross-Play
Another multiplayer necessity here but one that has been expanded to accomodate for next-gen. Siege has actually been an anomaly in the competitive circuit for not allowing cross-play between PC, Xbox and PlayStation consoles. With the move to next-gen, Ubisoft is opening up the matchmaking to include cross-generation play - with a caveat.
Whilst PS5 and PS4 players will be able to play together, they still won’t be able to matchmake with any Xbox or PC players. We’re one step closer to the ultimate cross-play dream but as it stands, you will need to keep your fellow operators on the same console family.
8 3D Audio
Thanks to the Tempest 3D Audio sound engine in the PS5 hardware, Siege’s audio has received a massive upgrade for next-gen. For a game that is so dependent on hearing enemy positions and sudden changes in movement, the improved directional audio is a blessing for Siege.
As you would expect, the enhanced 3D Audio (only available for headphone users right now) will allow players to get a competitive edge through hearing directions of gunfire, footsteps and any other environmental sounds. It should make every match that much more immersive and actually improve the adrenaline-pumping gameplay too.
7 Load Times
Console players will be all too familiar with Siege’s extensive load times whether it be across matchmaking, choosing an operator or just waiting to enter the map. Ubisoft are leveraging the PS5s ultra-fast SSD to do away with those loading woes for good.
Whilst matchmaking times still depend on your connection, the time to enter a map is remarkably quick, loading in almost instanteously after picking an operator loadout. That means more time for more matches - good news for any competitive player trying to level up as quickly as possible.
6 Haptic Feedback
One of the DualSense’s hallmark features - its precise haptic feedback - is now a significant part of how Siege controls on PS5. Gone are the days of repetitive rumbles after breach charges or grenades, as haptics heighten the immersion like never before.
Everything from explosions to gadgets have a tailored haptic response connecting players to their loadouts and their environment in a way that was impossible on PS4. In a game where the map itself can change at a moment’s notice, the haptic feedback brings those changes into the player’s hands. Mind you, that breach charge rumble will still be intense.
5 Adaptive Triggers
Haptics are cool and all, but it is important not to forget quite how revolutionary the DualSense’s adaptive triggers are, particularly for a shooter. Ubisoft is going the extra mile through tailoring individual weapons to different trigger profiles, meaning an assault rifle will feel completely different to a shotgun.
Adaptive triggers add extra immersion but are admittedly a controversial inclusion for competitive players. As certain weapons now take longer to fire due to the trigger resistance, you could argue they give a competitive disadvantage. All trigger effects can be turned off in the PS5 OS thankfully, so fear not if this change isn’t for you.
4 Activity Cards
The Activity Cards are quickly becoming the PS5s most underrated feature. As Siege shows however, they can be an absolute game-changer for multiplayer games. From the PS5 menu, players will be able to jump straight into matchmaking for Ranked, Unranked, Newcomer, Quick Match and Events lobbies without even requiring a boot.
This means players can jump into matches even faster whether playing solo or with their friends, beginner or pro. This system has been used to great effect in titles like Fortnite so hopefully this is only the start of a new multiplayer trend.
3 Remastered Maps
Thanks to the increased graphical prowess of the PS5, the old familiar Siege maps have been given a fresh coat of paint, giving even the most seasoned of players something new to look forward to.
Each map has enhanced depth-of-field effects and benefits from more realistic lighting. Furthermore, the level of detail on each map has been significantly increased incorporating higher resolution textures. Of course, all those lovely details will soon be blown to bits by explosives, but at least players can enjoy it while it lasts.
2 Resolution
If you’re sporting a shiny 4K TV to play your PS5 on, you will be delighted to hear that Siege has various graphics modes to unleash all sorts of visual flourishes.
On its highest fidelity Resolution Mode, Siege runs at a glorious native 4K whilst maintaining 60fps. If you want to enjoy the upgraded maps, lighting and spot every detail no matter how insignificant, then Resolution Mode might be the way to go. It is a significant upgrade too over the PS4 version running at 1080p on base models and 1440p on Pro.
1 Frame Rate
Perhaps the most significant upgrade particularly for competitive players will be the frame-rate boost. Whilst the native 4K mode does run at a smooth 60fps, those wanting truly smooth gameplay comparable to PC will want to shift to Performance Mode.
Dropping to a (still beautiful) dynamic 4K resolution, Siege runs at 120fps on supported displays. Not only does this create a silky smooth image, but input latency will be an all-time low for console players, once again giving them a competitive boost. For shooters that rely on razor-sharp reflexes and accuracy, this boost to Siege on PS5 cements it as a truly brilliant upgrade.
NEXT: 10 Games To Play If You Like Rainbow Six: Siege
