Ubisoft has announced that after a decade, Rainbow Six Siege is making the shift to a free-to-play model, albeit partially. This new phase is referred to by Ubisoft as “free access,” set to launch with the game’s significant update on June 10. While the majority of the game will be available for free, its most competitive features—including Ranked and Siege Cup modes—will remain locked behind a paywall.

During a preview event, game director Alex Karpazis discussed their reasoning for not fully converting to a free-to-play model, emphasizing the game’s integrity. Karpazis stated, “We want players to invite their friends and exhibit what makes Siege truly remarkable. This limits the barrier to entry since Siege thrives with friends playing together.”

Initially, when Siege debuted in 2015, the market was dominated by paid multiplayer games. However, the trend has drastically shifted, especially since the rise of games like Fortnite, which popularized the free-to-play model. Karpazis reflected that even though many older titles have made this transition, Siege has steadfastly held on to its price tag until now.

While the game will be accessible to new players, Ranked modes will require a purchase to ensure that serious players remain committed. Karpazis believes this helps to reduce the impact of smurfs and cheaters in competitive play.

As part of this major update, Siege will introduce its first permanent mode in a decade called Dual Front. Stay tuned for more details as Ubisoft officially unveils other features of this update.