If you have seen people talk about "R6," they almost always mean Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege — Ubisoft's tactical first-person shooter where two teams of five battle over a single objective. "R6" is simply the community shorthand for the Rainbow Six series, and since Siege has been the flagship game since 2015, the two terms are used interchangeably. This guide explains what R6 is, how a match plays out, and how to jump in yourself.
Unlike fast, run-and-gun shooters, R6 is slow, deliberate, and built around teamwork, information, and a destructible environment. Below we break the game down into five plain-English sections so you know exactly what you are getting into.
What "R6" actually means
"R6" is short for Rainbow Six, a long-running franchise based on the novels of Tom Clancy. While there have been many Rainbow Six games over the years, today the name almost always points to Rainbow Six Siege, which launched in December 2015 and is still updated by Ubisoft every season. It is a first-person tactical team shooter in which two squads of five face off — one side attacking, the other defending — over a fortified objective.
Attackers versus defenders
Every round of R6 pits five attackers against five defenders. Each round opens with a short preparation phase: defenders barricade doors, reinforce walls, and set traps, while attackers fly small drones around the building to locate the objective and spot enemies. Then the action phase begins, and the attackers must breach the building and complete the objective — defusing a bomb, rescuing a hostage, or securing a contested area — while the defenders try to stop them. There are no respawns within a round, so a single mistake can lose it.
Operators and their gadgets
You do not just pick a generic soldier in R6 — you choose an Operator. Each Operator is locked to either the attacking or defending side and carries a unique signature gadget, from breaching charges and recon devices to shields, traps, and barbed wire. With dozens of Operators available, no two loadouts play exactly the same, and the real depth of the game comes from combining gadgets across your team. Picking the right Operator for the map and the situation is half the battle.
Destruction is the heart of R6
What truly sets R6 apart is its destructible environment. Soft walls, floors, and ceilings can be blown open to create new sightlines, "murder holes," and breach points, so the layout of a room is never fixed. Defenders fight back by placing reinforced walls — metal-plated barriers that block bullets and most breaching tools — to funnel attackers into kill zones. This constant push and pull between opening up the map and locking it down is the core tactical loop, and it is why information from drones and security cameras is so valuable before you commit to a push.
How to start playing R6
Getting into R6 is straightforward. Create a free Ubisoft account, then either buy the game or look for the recurring free trial that lets you test it first. Rainbow Six Siege is available on PC (via Steam, the Epic Games Store, or the Ubisoft launcher), PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X|S, and through cloud streaming on Amazon Luna. Once installed, play the in-game tutorial and the single-player Situations to learn the basics, then practise maps in casual or unranked playlists before stepping into ranked matches.
Tips for new R6 players
- Use your drone. Spend the prep phase scouting — knowing where the objective and defenders are is often more useful than a fast kill.
- Reinforce smartly. As a defender, only reinforce the walls that protect your objective, and leave rotation holes so your team can move.
- Listen carefully. Sound is huge in R6. Footsteps, drilling, and breaching all give away positions, so play with headphones.
- Communicate. Call out enemy locations and plan with your team — coordination beats raw aim almost every time.
- Learn one map at a time. R6 has a lot of map knowledge to absorb, so focus on a few maps until you know their layouts.
Frequently asked questions
What does R6 stand for?
R6 stands for Rainbow Six, the Tom Clancy game franchise. In everyday use it almost always refers to the current game, Rainbow Six Siege.
Is R6 the same as Rainbow Six Siege?
For practically all players, yes. While R6 technically refers to the whole Rainbow Six series, Siege is the active game, so "R6" and "Rainbow Six Siege" are used to mean the same thing.
What kind of game is R6?
It is a tactical first-person shooter focused on 5v5 attacker-versus-defender rounds, destructible environments, unique Operators, and teamwork rather than fast-paced solo action.
Is R6 free to play?
The full game is a paid purchase, but Ubisoft regularly runs free trial periods that let you play for free for a limited time before deciding whether to buy it.
What platforms can I play R6 on?
R6 is available on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S, plus cloud streaming via Amazon Luna.
Final thoughts
In short, R6 is Rainbow Six Siege — a deep, tactical 5v5 shooter where reading the situation, using your Operator's gadget, and tearing through (or fortifying) the environment matters far more than raw reflexes. It rewards patience, communication, and map knowledge, which is exactly why it has stayed popular for so long. If that style of play appeals to you, grab the free trial and try a few rounds. To learn more or download the game, visit the official Rainbow Six Siege website.
