It was in 1998 that the Rainbow Six series debuted, and by 2023, it was considered one of the most iconic first-person shooter franchises of all time. Today, the Rainbow Six game sitting at the top of the table is ‘Siege’, which was released in 2015 and instantly became an esports-focused hit. It has left a lasting impact on the gaming industry and is still popular years after it was released, and today, we’re looking at one all-important question. Is Rainbow Six free, and if it is, how can you go about downloading it?
With the operating model of the gaming industry at large changing dramatically over the years, many games have adopted a free-to-play model. For instance, Overwatch 2, which was the 2022 follow-up to the 2016 title of the same name, was made free to play but a paid battle pass and microtransactions were added to the ecosystem. From PUBG to Fortnite and from Destiny 2 to Call of Duty Warzone, so many games have pushed the free-to-play model in recent years.
But with that being said, is Rainbow Six free? Ultimately, if it isn’t free, how much is Rainbow Six Siege? Let’s find out.
Do People Still Play Rainbow Six Siege?
Even if a game is free, it still needs to be justifiable to be played, and it needs to have players to make those multiplayer matches pop, right? Fortunately, even all these years after it was released, Rainbow Six Siege remains a popular enough game, with hundreds of thousands of active players enjoying the ecosystem from all around the world. It’s a fantastic game in its own right, and in the competitive scene, Rainbow Six Siege esports tournaments remain a staple of the industry.
It’s a game that’s regularly updated by its developer, Ubisoft. Every few weeks, fresh content is injected into the game, and even this far after launch, Ubisoft is pumping the game full of all-new features, maps, modes, Operators, and weapons. That’s one of the reasons why Rainbow Six Siege is still so popular – it’s being kept well and truly alive by its developer.
For the best Rainbow Six players in the world, it’s a top-tier title that doesn’t fail to hit the mark when it comes to tactical, competitive gameplay.
But to the question at hand – is Rainbow Six free?
Is Rainbow Six Siege Free to Play?
As of 2023, Rainbow Six Siege is not free to play, and it carries with it a hefty price tag on some platforms. If you’re buying it on a first-party platform like the Xbox or PlayStation store, or through the Steam or Ubisoft Connect launchers on PC, you’ll notice that it’s still quite expensive. That’s because it’s still a relevant, popular, and enjoyable game with plenty to offer.
It isn’t like one of the many Call of Duty games that have come and gone over the years. If this was a Call of Duty game, it would have been replaced at least seven times over by now – but that’s not the case. That’s why the Rainbow Six price has remained strong – even several years after the game was released.
However, that doesn’t mean that it’s locked behind a paywall forever. Every so often, Ubisoft will promote a free play weekend or a trial that will allow prospective players to get a taste of Rainbow Six Siege before investing in full. Alternatively, if you have access to a service like Ubisoft Plus, you’ll find that Rainbow Six Siege is included in the subscription. It’s not technically free, but it’s one of the most cost-effective ways to obtain the game.
It’s not free – but it’s worth it!
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