Today at the Rainbow Six Invitational 2020, Ubisoft took the lid of their plans for Year 5 and Year 6 for Rainbow Six Siege, their tactical shooter. Word is: "The focus of the two upcoming years is to implement major game updates that have a direct impact on player experience, including both map and Operator reworks, alongside in-game events for players to always have something new to discover in Rainbow Six Siege." They also officially unveil full details Operation Void Edge, which kicks off the first season of Year 5. Word is this "introduces Iana and Oryx -- a new Attacker and Defender -- from the Netherlands and Jordan, in addition to an entirely reworked Oregon map. Season 1 of Year 5 will also include a slew of gameplay changes and a limited-time event." Finally, they also announce that they are now transitioning the game's esports program to a new model that will cover four regional programs to run in parallel throughout the year. Here's a new Tournament of Champions Video, and here's more on Years 5 and 6, and now Year 5 will be a hybrid of the old and new formats:

Today at Six Invitational 2020, Ubisoft® unveiled the Year 5 and Year 6 plans for Tom Clancy’s® Rainbow Six Siege, presenting the future of the game. The focus of the two upcoming years is to implement major game updates that have a direct impact on player experience, including both map and Operator reworks, alongside in-game events for players to always have something new to discover in Rainbow Six Siege.

Transition to this new model will start with a hybrid Year 5: the first two seasons will stay in the current format, with two Operators and a map rework; while the second half of the year will introduce the Year 6 format. In Year 6, each season will introduce one new Operator and plenty of free content available for all players: a map rework, a limited-time event, along with major core gameplay updates. A Battle Pass will also be available each season, starting with Operation Void Edge.

CORE GAMEPLAY CHANGES
For the future, the focus is on the core gameplay of Siege, fundamental elements that have a direct impact on every player. The following points will be the priority target:

• Get players more invested int the preparation and support phases
• Expand player agency
• Reinvest in existing content such as maps and operators
• Create content and rework existing content that effects the way players engage with the environment and other players

For example, a smart ping system will be implemented to smoothen gameplay by improving communication in the team, mostly for players who can’t or prefer not to use voice chat. There will also be more secondary gadgets available to all Operators, and many more updates are currently being tested and will release during Year 5 and Year 6.

OPERATORS REWORKS
Reworks are major changes that affect how Operators are utilized and redefine their entire gameplay. In Year 5, Tachanka will be the first Operator completely reworked, and others will follow in the upcoming seasons.

IN-GAME EVENTS
Year 4 was already rich in terms of in-game events with Rainbow is Magic, Showdown, Doktor’s Curse, and Road to SI. In both Year 5 and Year 6, there will, again, be one major in-game event during each season. These events propose a unique gameplay shift, offering a refreshing and innovative experience to all players. In addition, weekend-only Arcade Playlists are also coming to the game. The first Arcade Playlist, Golden Gun, will happen during Y5S1, and more are planned, starting Y5S3.

Other changes for Year 5 and 6 have already been announced:

• Map ban, to offer players a better control on the map they will play
• Reputation system, a transparent system where player can get rewards or sanctioned based on their behaviors in-game