When I boot up Rainbow Six Siege today, I’m playing a completely different game than the one Ubisoft released in 2015. After three years and change, there isn’t a part of the tactical multiplayer shooter that hasn’t been chopped and screwed. The operators, weapons, menus, servers, destruction — nothing has been deemed untouchable in the eyes of both its developers and its fans. In 2019, Siege is one of the finest multiplayer experiences around. But even folks who don’t play the game can appreciate how it carved a new path for the sustainability of AAA games, and for the possibilities of cooperation between developers and fan communities.

There’s a lot that keeps me coming back to Siege after over 1,000 hours, thanks to a near-constant drip of new tweaks and additions. Every few months, Ubisoft drops two operators that shake up the game’s malleable meta. Alongside them, we get additional tools and environmental challenges: one-way mirrors, laser drones, holograms, spike traps. Content is delivered on a strictly scheduled roadmap that gives me a sense that my investment in the game is matched by its creators.

Unlike Blizzard’s vague hints about new Overwatch heroes that eventually become announcements, a new Siege season feels more like the scheduled return of your favorite TV show. After the success of Siege, Ubisoft applied the same seasonal model to For Honor and Ghost Recon Wildlands. Even Apex Legends’ upcoming roadmap looks familiar.

The side effect of Siege’s frequent injection of new mechanics is near-constant bugs. Ubisoft has made big strides in the past year to increase its bug-squashing efficiency, but issues persist. A bug with breaching charges last year turned Blitz into a hip-fire demon. Another exploit with Jäger allowed players to attach a deployable shield to his weapon, creating an unstoppable monstrosity. As every big patch fixes old bugs, new operators or maps spawn new issues that stick around for weeks or months. Rarely is any one bug or exploit game-breaking, but it’s frustrating that Siege never feels as smooth and polished as traditional shooters...

When I boot up Rainbow Six Siege today, I’m playing a completely different game than the one Ubisoft released in 2015. After three years and change, there isn’t a part of the tactical multiplayer shooter that hasn’t been chopped and screwed. The operators, weapons, menus, servers, destruction — nothing has been deemed untouchable in the eyes of both its developers and its fans. In 2019, Siege is one of the finest multiplayer experiences around. But even folks who don’t play the game can appreciate how it carved a new path for the sustainability of AAA games, and for the possibilities of cooperation between developers and fan communities. There’s a lot that keeps me coming back to Siege after over 1,000 hours, thanks to a near-constant drip of new tweaks and additions. Every few months, Ubisoft drops two operators that shake up the game’s malleable meta. Alongside them, we get additional tools and environmental challenges: one-way mirrors, laser drones, holograms, spike traps. Content is delivered on a strictly scheduled roadmap that gives me a sense that my investment in the game is matched by its creators. Unlike Blizzard’s vague hints about new Overwatch heroes that eventually become announcements, a new Siege season feels more like the scheduled return of your favorite TV show. After the success of Siege, Ubisoft applied the same seasonal model to For Honor and Ghost Recon Wildlands. Even Apex Legends’ upcoming roadmap looks familiar. The side effect of Siege’s frequent injection of new mechanics is near-constant bugs. Ubisoft has made big strides in the past year to increase its bug-squashing efficiency, but issues persist. A bug with breaching charges last year turned Blitz into a hip-fire demon. Another exploit with Jäger allowed players to attach a deployable shield to his weapon, creating an unstoppable monstrosity. As every big patch fixes old bugs, new operators or maps spawn new issues that stick around for weeks or months. Rarely is any one bug or exploit game-breaking, but it’s frustrating that Siege never feels as smooth and polished as traditional shooters...