If you’ve scrolled through R6 Reddit threads, watched recent Ubisoft showcase reactions, or checked Steam sale listings in the past year, you’ve almost certainly seen the question pop up: is rainbow six siege going to be free. For new players hesitant to drop $20+ on a notoriously competitive tactical shooter, and long-time fans who’ve spent hundreds on skins and battle passes, the answer carries a lot of weight. I’ve been playing Siege since Operation Blood Orchid, and I’ve followed every rumor and official comment about pricing shifts closely to break down exactly what we know, what to expect, and what you should do next.
Is Rainbow Six Siege Going to Be Free? Official Hints and Leaks So Far
First, let’s get the most important detail out of the way: Ubisoft has not made a formal announcement that Siege will shift to a free-to-play model. That doesn’t mean it’s off the table, though. Over the past two years, multiple official comments and internal leaks have pointed to the company actively exploring the option. For example, in a 2023 earnings call, Ubisoft’s CEO noted that Siege’s core player base is stable, but the team is looking for ways to “lower the barrier of entry” for casual players who don’t want to pay upfront to try the game.
We’ve also seen consistent testing of low-risk entry points for new players, including quarterly free weekend events that let anyone download and play the full game for 3-4 days at no cost. Free weekend events are not a sign of an immediate free-to-play launch, but they do give Ubisoft hard data on how many new players would join if the paywall was removed entirely. Recent leaks from reliable R6 insider accounts also suggest that the team has already started developing legacy rewards for existing players, which are a standard part of any paid-to-free game transition.
That means we’re not looking at a surprise free launch next month, but all signs point to the shift happening at some point in the next 18 months. Ubisoft has a history of testing these changes for years before rolling them out, so it’s not going to happen without plenty of advance warning for players.
What a Free-to-Play Rainbow Six Siege Would Look Like for Existing Players
The biggest fear I hear from long-time players is that a free shift would make all the money they’ve spent on skins, operators, and battle passes go to waste. That’s not going to happen, based on how Ubisoft has handled similar transitions for other games in its catalog. When For Honor shifted to free-to-play in 2022, all existing players kept every single item they’d purchased, got exclusive legacy cosmetic packs only available to people who owned the game before the shift, and received priority matchmaking to avoid lobbies with brand new players.
For Siege, we can expect almost identical treatment. All existing in-game purchases will remain fully accessible the second the game goes free, no extra steps required. You won’t lose your ranked progress, your alpha pack collection, or your year 1 operator unlocks. Ubisoft has already confirmed in multiple developer Q&As that they will never wipe player progress for any reason, so that’s one worry you can cross off your list.
We’ll also almost certainly see legacy player exclusive cosmetic packs that include rare charms, weapon skins, and operator uniforms that can’t be earned by new free players. The only big change existing players will notice is larger lobbies and shorter queue times, plus a wave of new players learning the basics. Ubisoft has also noted that enhanced anti-cheat measures are in development specifically to prepare for a potential free-to-play launch, as free games typically attract more bad actors looking to cheat for easy wins.
Potential Benefits and Drawbacks of a Free R6 Siege Model
A free-to-play shift isn’t all good or all bad, no matter what side of the debate you’re on. There are clear perks for both new and existing players, but there are also some annoying downsides that we’ll all have to adjust to if the change happens.
Some of the biggest confirmed benefits include:
Of course, there are downsides too. Smurf account prevalence will likely rise in the first 3-6 months after a free-to-play shift, as high-ranked players will be able to make new accounts for no cost to play against lower-ranked opponents. We’ll also probably see Ubisoft shift more exclusive cosmetic items to the paid battle pass, rather than making them available for free through in-game challenges, to make up for the lost revenue from upfront game sales.
The good news is that most of these downsides are temporary. Ubisoft already has systems in place to detect smurf accounts, and they’ve promised to ramp up those systems if the game goes free. The core gameplay loop that makes Siege fun won’t change at all, so you’ll still be able to run your favorite strats with your squad just like you do now.
Should You Buy Rainbow Six Siege Now, or Wait for a Free Release?
This is the question I get asked more than any other by friends who want to get into Siege but don’t want to waste their money if the game goes free in a few months. The short answer: if you want to play the game any time soon, buy it now. Wait, let me explain that.
First, Siege goes on sale for 75% off or more at least four times a year, so you can pick up the base game for as little as $4.99 during Steam or Ubisoft Store sales. That’s less than the cost of a single battle pass, and you get full access to the game months or even years before it goes free. You won’t have to repurchase any content you already own when the shift happens, plus you’ll get all the exclusive legacy rewards for being an early player, so you’re not losing anything by buying early.
If you’re on an extremely tight budget and don’t mind waiting 12+ months to play, you can hold out for the free release. Just don’t hold your breath—Ubisoft has given no indication that the free launch is coming any time soon, and you’ll miss out on a ton of fun seasonal content while you wait. If you want to test the game before you buy, keep an eye out for free weekend events, which happen every 3-4 months and let you play the full game without paying a cent.
I recommended three of my friends buy the game during last year’s Steam Winter Sale for $4.99, and all of them have already put over 100 hours into it. Even if the game goes free next month, they all say they’ve already gotten more than their money’s worth, plus they’ll get the legacy rewards when the shift happens.
At the end of the day, the answer to is rainbow six siege going to be free is that it’s very likely in the next 18 months, but there’s no official date set yet. Whether you buy now or wait for the free release, you’re going to get access to one of the best tactical shooters ever made, with a loyal community and constant new content updates. If you’re on the fence, grab the game during the next sale, or jump into the next free weekend to see if it’s for you—you won’t regret it.
