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Rainbow Six Tactics: Everything We Know About Ubisoft's New Strategy Game
Rainbow Six Tactics is a new turn-based tactical strategy game set in the Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six universe, developed by Ubisoft Paris and announced during gamescom Opening Night Live 2026. The release is scheduled for 2027 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, also available via Ubisoft+ subscription.
In the game, the player takes on the role of 'Six', commander of the Rainbow unit, leading squads of up to four operators on counter-terrorism missions across different regions of the world.
The structure combines strategic planning at headquarters, synchronized area breaches, and turn-based tactical combat, using operators and gadgets familiar from Rainbow Six Siege.
What is Rainbow Six Tactics?
Rainbow Six Tactics is a spin-off of Rainbow Six Siege in the turn-based tactical strategy genre, replacing the first-person action focus with squad command and grid-based decisions. The campaign runs parallel to the Rainbow Six Siege timeline, between years 10 and 11 of the live-service game's chronology.
The title is structured as a single-player experience, with a narrative campaign made up of dozens of high-risk missions in different locations. It is the first game in the franchise focused on a solo campaign since Rainbow Six Vegas 2 in 2008.
Turn-based tactical gameplay
Each operation in Rainbow Six Tactics is divided into phases of intelligence gathering, planning, synchronized breach, and turn-based combat. Before the mission, the player analyzes the map, enemy positions, and entry routes to define the squad composition and approach.
On the battlefield, combat takes place on a grid and in turns, with movement, ability use, and gadgets for each operator defined in sequence. The Breach mechanic allows the four operators to act simultaneously when opening a new area, combining environmental destruction and coordinated actions in a single breach moment.
Scenarios are hand-built and include destructible elements such as walls and cover that can be destroyed to create new lines of sight, alternative routes, and entry points. Drones and reconnaissance tools are used to reveal parts of the map covered by the fog of war and locate enemies and traps before executing the plan.
Mission types include:
- Hostage rescue
- Bomb defusal
- Elimination or capture of specific targets
Each objective requires careful preparation and the possibility of adaptation during combat.
Campaign, operators and progression
The player controls Six, commander of the Rainbow unit, responsible for reorganizing the team in the face of a new global threat. The campaign brings together dozens of missions across more than 40 locations around the world, with different types of contracts and objectives.
The playable roster features 15 operators from Rainbow Six Siege, all with abilities, specialized gadgets, and their own progression trees. Among the names mentioned in official materials are Ash, Sledge, Nøkk, Montagne, Glaz, Doc, and Twitch.
Between missions, the player manages the Rainbow headquarters, being able to:
- Upgrade base departments and facilities
- Unlock new equipment and devices
- Evolve operator skills in specific trees
This cycle alternates between mission selection, team preparation, turn-based combat, and returning to HQ for training and upgrades. Some reports mention optional perma-death modes for operators, adding consequences to field decisions.
So far, all information released indicates Rainbow Six Tactics as an exclusively single-player experience, with no co-op or competitive modes announced.
Release, platforms and business model
Rainbow Six Tactics has a confirmed release window for 2027, with no specific date announced yet. The game will launch on PC (Ubisoft Connect, Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
In addition to traditional console and PC versions, the game is listed for cloud gaming services such as GeForce Now and Blacknut. At launch, the title will also be included with the Ubisoft+ subscription.
Official communications state that Rainbow Six Tactics will have no in-game store, microtransactions, or live-service structure. The product is presented as a premium single-player experience based solely on traditional purchase or subscription access.
Relationship with Rainbow Six Siege and franchise positioning
Rainbow Six Tactics is set in the same universe as Rainbow Six Siege and uses operators, gadgets, and tactical themes already familiar from the competitive game. The story follows a period of Rainbow team reorganization in response to a new global-scale threat.
While Rainbow Six Siege maintains a focus on real-time online matches, Rainbow Six Tactics shifts the center of the experience to:
- Turn-based squad command
- Base and resource management between operations
- Mission selection and pre-mission intelligence analysis
This approach reinforces elements already present in Rainbow Six, such as detailed planning and the use of specialized tools, in a format different from competitive FPS. Development is handled by Ubisoft Paris, the studio with a history in strategy projects such as Mario + Rabbids.
Will Rainbow Six Tactics be worth it?
The answer depends heavily on each player's profile. For turn-based strategy fans, Rainbow Six Tactics offers a solid proposal: an extensive single-player campaign, 15 operators with individual progression trees, destructible environments, and the Breach mechanic for synchronized breaches.
The absence of microtransactions and inclusion in the Ubisoft+ subscription from launch reinforces the appeal for those seeking a premium experience without additional monetization.
Players who follow Rainbow Six Siege for online competition may find the genre shift jarring, as tactics replace real-time action with grid-based planning and sequential combat.
On the other hand, those who value narrative, team management and long-term tactical decisions are likely to find value in the structure of varied missions, base management and field consequences.
With a planned release for 2027 on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, the title has not yet had extensive gameplay shown publicly. The definitive assessment of whether Rainbow Six Tactics will be worth it will depend on technical reviews, campaign depth, and execution of the mechanics presented so far.
Stay tuned to Strafe Esports for more Rainbow Six Siege news. Don't forget to follow us on our Social Media for real-time updates on your favorite game.
Featured image credits: Ubisoft
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