Rainbow Six Extraction is back, here's what we know. ~ System Admin Stuff

Following the success of Rainbow Six Siege, Extraction brings a cooperative spin marrying deep strategy with the first-person shooter.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege sits among top-earners for Ubisoft in 2021, with an upcoming spin-off set to capitalize on the series newfound multi-million player base. Rainbow Six Extraction translates that identity into a new cooperative setup, tasking three players to aid the containment of an alien parasite sweeping the nation. Expanding upon the foundations established with Outbreak, the hit limited-time mode under Operation Chimera, the game is shaping up to be a deep, tactical experience for fans, new and old.

Fight The Outbreak

Rainbow Six Extraction

$60 at Microsoft

$60 at Amazon

$60 at Ubisoft

Co-op, replayability, and tension.

Embracing the signatures of Rainbow Six Siege through a cooperative lens, Rainbow Six Quarantine sees Operators deployed to tackle a global biohazard threat. Ubisoft's upcoming shooter offers a new form of tactical experience for long-time fans and newcomers, expected to release in late 2021.

Rainbow Six Extraction release date

Rainbow Six Extraction doesn't have a firm release date, but Ubisoft currently has the title on track for sometime between April 2021 and March 2022. While Ubisoft first unveiled Rainbow Six Extraction with availability scheduled for 2020, the title was later among three projects delayed one year to ensure additional development time. Ubisoft CEO, Yves Guillemot, has since told investors the game has suffered yet another delay into the 2021/22 fiscal year, as announced during its Q2 2021 earnings report.

While first announced for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, its release window also indicates availability on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. Multiple delays could also see this become a next-generation-only experience, although formal launch platforms remain unclear, right now.

While also absent from recent Ubisoft events, we're expecting to hear more on the title as a part of Ubisoft Forward at E3 2021.

Rainbow Six Quarantine renamed to Rainbow Six Extraction

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction was first unveiled midway through 2019 as "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Quarantine," however, the current state of the world has left its premise closer to home. That's led Ubisoft to reconsider how it frames the title, outlining plans to abandon the "Quarantine" naming with the final project. "On Rainbow Six Quarantine, we are creating a product that is actually – as it's named today – it is something we are evaluating and we'll see what comes in the future on that product," Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot stated in a recent earnings call.

Assets related to "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Parasite" recently surfaced through PlayStation Network, sparking speculation around the revised title. That included key art featuring Operator Elżbieta "Ela" Bosak in protective gear, all signs which pointed toward an official title. Ubisoft later dismissed assumptions, instead stating that "Parasite" was an internal working title for the project. Ubisoft later announced a rebrand for the project, now titled "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction."

What is Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction?

Rainbow Six Quarantine features familiar faces, next deployed on a mission across the U.S.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege exhibits continued success for Ubisoft, with its tactical multiplayer supported by a competition-primed sandbox, and regular free updates for almost half a decade. That's established a near 60 million-strong following across console and PC, demonstrating an identity through personified Operators and deep-rooted gameplay synergies.

Ubisoft capitalizes on the same philosophies in Rainbow Six Extraction, a new spin-off focused on cooperative, squad-based first-person shooter action. It takes influence from Outbreak, one of the most popular limited-time Rainbow Six Siege events, pitting its cast against a mysterious biohazard pandemic threatening humankind.

Rainbow Six Extraction shares its tactical fundamentals with Rainbow Six Siege, developed by a new team under the same Montreal office. That includes shared defining signatures, including gadgets, gunplay, and destruction, but translated into a three-player cooperative setting with AI enemies.

The first talk of the project surfaced at E3 2019, with Ubisoft debuting a one-minute cinematic teaser trailer, providing the first sample of the shift in tone. With a dazed survivor fending off the infected, it presents a chaotic backdrop akin to the 2018 Siege event. It wraps with the appearance of Ela and Vigil, two familiar faces from the existing Rainbow Six Siege cast, expected to make a return in 2021.

Extraction seemingly centers around the same alien parasite featured in Outbreak, where a USSR space capsule crash lands in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, and a quarantine is established to contain the epidemic. The virus triggers a variety of infected forms, defined by crystalline structures protruding from the body, and each corresponding to enemy classes in gameplay.

The fundamental mission structure of Outbreak also may return, adopting a Left 4 Dead-style setup, with self-contained levels cycling between various objectives. In the original limited-time mode, that included defending sites, protecting civilians, and progressing through hordes, while accounting for distinctive elements of Rainbow Six gameplay.

Rainbow Six Extraction gameplay leaks

Rainbow Six Siege's limited-time Outbreak mode under Operation Chimera served as early inspiration for the title.

Ubisoft hasn't provided any Rainbow Six Extraction footage beyond its initial teaser, including any form of gameplay, or the changes to expect over Rainbow Six Siege. While familiar to veterans, Ubisoft also positions the game as an ideal entry point for series newcomers.

What to expect from moment-to-moment gameplay remains unclear as a result, but alleged leaked documentation from early 2020 provided our first potential glimpse at internal plans. Photographs of a supposed internal pamphlet surfaced, an unusual form factor for leaks, outlining core philosophies headed into the Extraction project. And while worth taking lightly due to its unconfirmed nature, the high volume of details aligns with other reputable reports that followed.

The document discusses the primary qualities of Rainbow Six Extraction, suggesting a title further exploring its tactical heritage and presented through "co-op, replayability, and tension." It implies a premise not too dissimilar from past Rainbow Six titles, this time focusing on an atmospheric player-versus environment (PvE) setting. That further divides into three further phases on a per-mission basis – observe, plan, and action – encouraging intelligence, gadgetry, and combat, all synonymous with Rainbow Six Siege.

We also understand Ubisoft is exploring a "PVE Ranked" experience for Rainbow Six Extraction, melding its player-versus-AI combat with the competitive foundations at the heart of Rainbow Six Siege. The grind from Bronze to Diamond has proven increasingly lucrative amid the series' recent success, with similar skill-based challenges likely awaiting for this title.

Various leaks also provide a potential overview of planned game content, including returning Operators, enemies, mission locations, and overall game structure.

It discusses missions spanning U.S. cities, opening in New York City, followed by San Francisco, and wrapped with "TRC," likely referencing Truth or Consequences, the setting of the original Outbreak event. Now-deleted images from 3D artist Eric Clark on ArtStation further back this speculation, a contributor on Rainbow Six Extraction assets used alongside the reveal. While providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the creation of renders, the featured glowsticks also reference coordinates for New York City and San Francisco government buildings, providing solid backing for the pamphlet leak.

We've also received what could be our first look at Extraction's mission list, with a dump of supposed pre-release game strings from reputable Rainbow Six leakster, /u/Zer0Bytes_ on Reddit. The alleged files detail the same three-part structure but split across six chapters each.

Game types could include Sabotage, Escort, Disruption, and Hunt, each suggesting various objectives for players to pursue. These appear to explore familiar gameplay tropes, including protecting VIPs, hunting targets, or planning assaults on objectives.

We also see the arrival of new infected, alongside the return of favorites from Outbreak, divided into four tiers. The Grunt, Breacher, Rooter, Smasher, and Apex return, with the debut of the Bloater, Spiker, and Harasser, each with different contributions to combat.

Footage of internal technical tests has since hit the internet, with almost one hour of footage among documented leaks. While Ubisoft was quick to take action, removing the video from popular streaming sites, we know the Extraction project is rapidly nearing completion, potentially launching in 2021.

Rainbow Six Extraction Operators

Rainbow Six Extraction brings forward existing Operators from Rainbow Six Siege, its playable hero-style counterterrorism specialists, now intrinsic to the brand identity. The growing roster of more than 50 personas has emerged as one of the game's vital points for success, from their gameplay contributions to the personalities they inject. As seen with the limited-time Outbreak mode, Ubisoft brings forward a selection of Operators to contain the virus.

We already know of three Operators confirmed following the reveal, with Ela and Vigil stars of its trailer, and Lion appearing in promotional assets. The documentation mentioned above suggests those Operators are just a fraction of the planned roster, with 21 existing Operators reportedly on track for launch. It indicates each falls into categories for "Assault," "Recon," and "Support," supporting the fundamental pillars of the gameplay loop. Datamined information as of June 2020 aligns almost identically, only swapping out Smoke and Nomad for Maestro. Here's the list of Rainbow Six Extraction expected, as per the pamphlet.

ASSAULT

Sledge
Tachanka
Smoke
Nomad
Zofia
Ying
Hibana

RECON

Lion
Vigil
Alibi
Pulse
Jackal
IQ
Echo

SUPPORT

Ela
Finka
Doc
Gridlock
Rook
Jager
Fuze

Those Operators may debut with familiar weapons from Rainbow Six Siege, which like their gadgets, come tightly bound to their identities. But it's unclear whether some Operators will undergo revisions, best demonstrated by Vigil and his counter-intelligence tools to hide from camera feeds. Unless we have CCTV-wielding zombies, some may receive adjustments to fit the cooperative play.

Ubisoft also appears poised to experiment with Operator leveling, deferring from the horizontal progression in Rainbow Six Siege, focused on improving individual skills and strategies. Rainbow Six Extraction will reportedly experiment with a deep system on a per-Operator basis, using a one-to-ten leveling system, given a reduced need to maintain balance across players.

Is an Extraction event coming to Rainbow Six Siege?

Rainbow Six Siege and Rainbow Six Extraction remain entirely separate games, separated in themes, and between their cooperative PvE and competitive PvP fundamentals. We expect the two titles to co-exist over the years ahead, with continued seasonal updates over multiple years.

However, Rainbow Six Extraction is expected to cross into Rainbow Six Siege in some way, especially given content surfacing since mid-2020, with Operation Shadow Legacy. Game files included various unreleased cosmetics tied into the Extraction theme, many including the game's insignia, respirators, and camouflage, all aligning with past promotional content. We've since seen more Operator skins leak ahead of the new Operation North Star update, showcasing both skins of both Operators and infected forms.

While it's far from confirmed that Extraction will tie into a full new season, these seasonal skins suggest a new cross-title collaboration is brewing. Reputable Rainbow Six leakster, @benjaminstrike on Twitter, has also stated Operation North Star will bring a Rainbow Six Extraction-themed event to Rainbow Six Siege, reworking existing map Consulate.

Rainbow Six Extraction PC requirements

While Rainbow Six Extraction is yet to hit the market, we have seen several reports of ongoing technical tests among the public, locked up in strict non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for all. That's seen some blurred gameplay hit the internet, with scattered details on features, but we still have a lot to learn before launch.

Those tests also saw several reports of PC system requirements, which, while likely not final, provide a glimpse into the demanded hardware. It suggests Rainbow Six Extraction will be significantly more taxing than Rainbow Six Siege, requiring higher-end hardware across minimum and recommended specifications. The expected PC requirements follow, as reportedly shared with technical test registrants.

Rainbow Six Extraction Minimum Requirements

OS: Windows 10 64-bit
Processor: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz / AMD Ryzen 3 1200 3.1GHz
RAM: 8GB
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 4GB / AMD Radeon R9 290X 4GB
Storage: 60GB

Rainbow Six Extraction Recommended Requirements

OS: Windows 10 64-bit
Processor: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X 3.5GHz
RAM: 16GB
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB / AMD Radeon RX 580 4GB
Storage: 60GB

Rainbow Six Extraction beta

Rainbow Six Extraction hasn't received a confirmed beta, although like many triple-A titles hitting the market, it appears set for later in 2021. The official game site currently grants players an opportunity for a "chance to play early," by selecting between Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, and signing up for the newsletter.

Like Rainbow Six Siege, a beta test will likely come in the months leading up to launch, with more details potentially set for mid-2021.

Rainbow Six Extraction is expected to release for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC sometime in 2021, with Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 likely to follow. While currently unavailable for preorder in the US, preorders are now live at Amazon UK.

Fight The Outbreak

Rainbow Six Extraction

See at Amazon

Co-op, replayability, and tension.

Embracing the signatures of Rainbow Six Siege through a cooperative lens, Rainbow Six Extraction sees Operators deployed to tackle a global biohazard threat. Ubisoft's upcoming shooter offers a new form of tactical experience for long-time fans and newcomers, expected to release in late 2020.

System Admin Stuff

Sunday, 13 June 2021