Year 6 Reveal Megathread

This post will serve as a megathread for information about Year 6 as a whole that has been revealed as part of the Future of Siege stream.

Check out our other megathread for information specifically about Y6S1: Operation Crimson Heist.

You can re-watch the whole panel here:

Have I missed anything? Reply to my stickied comment with additional information, thanks!

Year 6 Roadmap

Year 6 Roadmap

Season 1: Operation Crimson Heist

• Operator: Flores from Argentina
• Border map rework
• Other content:
  • 1 in-game event
  • Multiple Arcade modes
  • Battlepass
  • Core gameplay changes
• For more information, visit our Crimson Heist reveal megathread

Season 2

• Operator from the Nakoda indigenous people of Canada
• Favela casual map rework
• Other content:
  • 1 in-game event
  • Multiple Arcade modes
  • Battlepass
  • Core gameplay changes

Season 3

• Operator from Croatia
• Smaller changes to multiple maps
• Other content:
  • 1 in-game event
  • Multiple Arcade modes
  • Battlepass
  • Core gameplay changes

Season 4

• Operator from Ireland
• Outback map rework
• Other content:
  • 1 in-game event
  • Multiple Arcade modes
  • Battlepass
  • Core gameplay changes

Changes Throughout Year 6

General Changes

• New Operators now available through the Battlepass
  • First reward of the premium track (includes exclusive headgear & uniform)
  • Replaces Year Pass
  • Can be bought with Renown after 2-week exclusivity period
  • No Battlepass price changes
• Test Server changes: testing more ambitious changes
  • Big changes tested might be tested up to 6 months prior to coming to live servers to gather early feedback

Gameplay Changes

• Reduced in-game downtime
  • Right now, gameplay activity is focused on action phase
  • Improvements to support phase: attackers can use drones after death, Echo & Maestro can use their gadgets after death
• Reduced imbalance towards defenders
  • Attackers can repick Operators during preparation phase
  • GONNE-6 attacker secondary weapon that shoots small explosive round
• Operator armor now represented by additional health
  • 1 armor => 100 health
  • 2 armor => 120 health
  • 3 armor => 140 health
  • Rook armor => additional 20 health
• Goyo rework: canisters will no be attached to shields anymore
• Melusi rework: Banshee devices will open based on proximity, removing their bulletproof characteristic
• Mira nerf: Black Mirrors can be meleed to remove vision
• Maestro nerf: Evil Eyes can be meleed to remove vision when closed

Onboarding Improvements

• New onboarding development cell focused on helping new players get into the game faster
• Goal: lower skill floor while skill ceiling remains at current level

Ranked & Matchmaking Updates

• Ranking system being reworked to allow for better progression across seasons
• Matchmaking changes to combat smurf accounts and intentional deranking

Player Behavior Updates

• Reputation System active in background for a while
• Goal of reputation system: give feedback to the player about their standing
• Sanctions for bad standing, rewards for positive standing
  • Sanction like Ranked ban, voice chat ban, etc

Esports

• Return of global majors in 2021
• Six Invitational returning to Montreal in February 2022

Miscellaneous Changes

• Modernized menus
• Modernized artwork, including updated game logo
• Streamer mode (coming in first half of Y6)
  • Hide usernames, region, level, profile picture and ping
  • Random matchmaking delay
• Technology improvements
  • Better connectivity
  • Better DDoS mitigation
  • Reduced download size
• Elite Skin customization
  • Headgear, uniform, and victory animation can be equipped separately
• More Elite Skin partnerships after Lara Croft-inspired Ash
  • Next: Resident Evil-inspired Zofia Elite Skin
  • Later: another Resident Evil-inspired Elite Skin
• Rainbow Six Siege board game coming in summer 2021
• Rick & Morty collaboration teased