r6 Update: Rainbow Six Siege Update

With the test run of Rainbow Six Siege Title Update 2.2.1 finally over, the patch will enter the live servers tomorrow June 6. Within Update 2.2.1, Glaz received several nerfs to his weapon and kit, while the majority of the patch is dedicated to Operation: Health. One Step Matchmaking and Interactive Matchmaking are included in the coming update, but more importantly, the first phase of the hitbox rework will be implemented.

Rainbow Six Siege Update 2.2.1 rolls out on June 7 first on PC, while PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will receive the patch once it’s approved by Sony and Microsoft, respectively. You can find the patch notes below and you can find a compendium of the bug fixes here.

One Step Matchmaking

One Step Matchmaking will be introduced in Rainbow Six Siege Update 2.2.1 focusing on streamlining the service with greater stability.

Stability and performance is one of the primary goals for the dev team, and this is one giant step towards better performance and faster queue times.

In addition to the new matchmaking service, Ubisoft also introduces the Interactive Matchmaking feature which allows you the freedom to access the in-game store, unlock new operators, and adjust your loadouts as you continue to search for a game. Ubisoft is also implementing a new match-flow system so so you or your party can choose to re-enter matchmaking to find a new game, return to the main menu, or continue to queue with the current players.

Hitbox Rework

Likely the highest impact change in Update 2.2.1 is the implementation of Siege’s hitbox rework. The new design of the hitboxes only includes what you would think of as the human body. This means that baggy clothing, pouches, headgear, bags, accessories, or anything else of the sort will not be included in the hitbox of all Operators.

This change will impact present and future operators, and will allow for a full artistic freedom on character models and customization without a heavy impact on gameplay balancing.

Game Balancing

Glaz

Glaz’s effectiveness is currently too high in high level organized games and in the current Pro League meta. This is especially seen in rapid short distant pushes, which is not how we intend Glaz to be strong. While we’re very happy that his scope change brought him back to the forefront of competitive play, there’s not a balanced counter to him yet on the defense side.

In order to scale Glaz back a notch, Ubisoft made two changes:

• Reduce his gun effectiveness. Chaining shots while being accurate is going to be tougher, and overall damage of each bullet has been reduced. At short distance especially, defenders will take more body shots before dying to the Dragunov.
• Make smoke grenades availability a tougher choice in organized matches by swapping them with other Operator’s loadouts.

Dragunov Changes Detailed

• Glaz’s Dragunov recoil and re-centering time have been increased.
• Glaz’s Dragunov damage has been decreased.

Before:

After:

There are many more balancing changes Ubisoft has on hold right now, but the developers felt this was important enough to push during Operation: Health.

Loadouts

• Ash and Thermite’s Smoke Grenades are replaced by Stun Grenades.
• Fuze and Jackal’s Stun Grenades replaced by Smoke Grenades.

Game Health

Spawn Kills

Ubisoft identified three locations where players can be spawn killed on Chalet by the Campfire spawn, on Kanal with the line of sight from Control Room, and on Consulate where defenders could jump out of a window and get a line of sight on a spawn. Each of these received adjustments and the developers plan on addressing other maps in upcoming updates.

Exploits

Ubisoft fixed a number of design issues that could be exploited, such as Mira’s One Way Mirror or Kapkan’s EDD. In addition, there are destruction changes that were implemented, so players can no longer destroy a part of the map for a one-way line of sight.

Error Codes

• We’ve fixed an error that relates to timing out on servers. We are identifying fixes for other errors as well and making them a priority in Operation: Health.

Player Comfort Changes

New Post-Match and Pre-Match Squad Flow

There are now new menu options that allow you to choose when to re-enter matchmaking from the After Action Report screen, which also works if you’re in a party.

The squad leader can choose when the squad enters matchmaking, re-enters the matchmaking flow from the AAR screen, propose a rematch to the other team, or return to the main menu. From a squad member’s perspective, they will have the option to leave the squad and matchmaking loop.

Keep Playing as a Team Option

Part of this new flow also means you will not be immediately re-queued for a match, as the default option will send you back to the main menu screen. At the end of the matches, you will have to opt-in to re-queue. However, there will be an option to keep playing with the same team if you prefer to stay with the teammates you were matched with.

Rainbow Six Siege Update 2.2.1 rolls out on June 7 first on PC, while PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will receive the patch once it’s approved by Sony and Microsoft, respectively.