Ubisoft Trades Mushrooms for Mayhem in New Game

Ubisoft Paris is undergoing a significant shift, moving from the vibrant Mushroom Kingdom of Mario + Rabbids to the tactical combat of the Rainbow Six series with their new game, Rainbow Six Tactics. This title reimagines the turn-based strategy genre, drawing inspiration from the deliberate planning and high stakes of Rainbow Six Siege.

Creative director Elie Benhamou highlights the inherent connection between Siege's smart shooter mechanics and turn-based tactics, emphasizing that success in Siege relies on preparation and consequential decisions. Players will experience tense operations, such as a night-time raid in Nigeria, where synchronized teamwork and strategic execution are paramount. The game supports both lethal and non-lethal approaches, with the latter offering intelligence points to enhance squad capabilities.

Rainbow Six Tactics aims to empower players with freedom, offering 15 distinct operators, each allowing for multiple ways to tackle objectives. The narrative, reminiscent of classic Tom Clancy fare, places players in the role of commander Paul "Big Boy" Bishop, tasked with re-establishing Team Rainbow in a globe-spanning conflict. This perspective offers a broader view than Siege's moment-to-moment gameplay, aligning more closely with the techno-thriller essence of the books.

Developing compelling levels for Rainbow Six Tactics presented unique challenges, requiring close collaboration between level designers and artists to adhere to reality, unlike the creative freedom enjoyed on Mario + Rabbids. This shift comes as the turn-based tactical genre experiences a revival, with recent successes bolstering its presence after a period of being niche or out of the spotlight.