Rainbow Six Siegeis one of the most popular live service games currently available. For the most part, Ubisoft has accomplished that by keeping the monetization elements ofRainbow Six Siegerelatively modest, or at least unobtrusive. However, a decision by theRainbow Six Siegeteam to reissue 50 extremely rare cosmetics solely through packs that can be purchased with real money has insensed the typically accommodating fanbase. Whether Ubisoft will respond toRainbow Six Siegeplayer frustrations remains to be seen.
In an announcement made on Tuesday, Ubisoft revealed that Outbreak packs would be returning toRainbow Six Siegefor a limited amount of time. Outbreak Packs are the sole way to unlock cosmetics from the Outbreak Collection, which featured 50 items including uniforms, weapon skins, charms, headgear, and even an Elite Set. The key difference between now and when the Outbreak Collection was first available was that Outbreak Packs could be earned multiple ways, both by playing the limited-time Outbreak mode or by purchasing anAdvanced Edition ofTom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege.
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The only way to acquire Outbreak Packs now is to spend hard-earned R6 Credits or by purchasing R6 Credits with real money. There’s otherwise no in-game way to earn packs, nor has Ubisoft brought backRainbow Six Siege’s popular Outbreak modealongside the packs. That’s why someRainbow Six Siegeplayers are accusing Ubisoft of a “cash grab” with content that previously felt exclusive and earned, since it rewarded participation during a limited-time event.
Fans have offered up a variety of ideas for how Ubisoft could improve the situation. They range from unlikely, like bringing back Outbreak mode temporarily, to leaning into Ubisoft’s profit-driven goals, like bundling packs andOutbreak cosmeticsinto a limited edition ofRainbow Six Extraction. Given the event’s already begun and only lasts two weeks, any dramatic changes seem impossible.
The frustration isn’t just among Reddit commenters, either.ProminentRainbow Six Siegeplayersand influencers including Macie Jay and Pengu have added their voices to those voicing displeasure with the situation. Pengu by far has the harsher criticism, saying, “You can’t keep the game running by trying to cash grab, your playerbase can’t afford this, these 50 skins are almost double the price of a AAA game.”
As for why Ubisoft is re-releasing these rare skins now, it’s likely in part due to the recent full reveal ofRainbow Six Extractionand its upcoming September launch. The Outbreak mode and skins were a clear precursor to the upcoming cooperative multiplayer game andSiegewill be innately tied toExtractionin more ways than one. Monetized cosmetics just may not have been the best way to go about building up hype.
Rainbow Six Siegeis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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