Rainbow Six Siege is another addition to the growing trend of full-priced multiplayer-only titles. I have no issues with that, because I don’t see how it’s supposedly different to a fully priced game that offers a short single-player only experience, but I digress. What I do take issue with is how a game, such as Siege, charges a full price and then demands even more though microtransactions and DLC. Especially when earning it in-game seems so ludicrously unfair.
Rainbow Six Siege will have its own $30 Season Pass, but Ubisoft made a big deal about assuring players that in-game credit can be earned and spent to get the gear just like everyone else. In particular, they referenced the eight new Operator characters that players will be able to purchase or unlock through dedicated play. And dedication you’ll need too, with Ubisoft themselves stating that you’ll need around 25 hours of game time to unlock them. That’s 25 hours for each, individual one.
“The data we have suggests that the average FPS player spends 8-10 hours a week playing their favourite FPS (also in-line with our observation during the closed beta), so it should only take between two to three weeks maximum to unlock an operator”
Ubisoft is hoping the three month gaps between new content will allow players to get in enough game time to unlock the new Operators as they drop – or at the very least they’re banking on many players seeing that figure and simply dropping down actual money instead. Siege uses an in-game currency called R6 Credits for these purchases, as well as XP boosts, weapon skins and more.
Ubisoft also confirmed that the 20 Operators shipping with the game will only take a fraction of this time to unlock. So really they’re trying desperately to get you to purchase these new post-launch Operators outright and avoid the grind.
Like I said, I have no issue with multiplayer games being full-priced experiences. I take issue with the practices that Ubisoft is employing here however. They aren’t the first. They aren’t the last. But they’re definitely not excused from criticism for this type of exploitation.
Last Updated: November 17, 2015
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 17, 2015 at 12:18
Ok, that is one way of doing it
Captain JJ the Goo
November 17, 2015 at 12:21
25 hours is actually quite fair for an FPS MP game. People put hundreds of hours worth of gaming into those.
Well Ubi, I’m impressed
Still not interested in the slightest in the game, but I like this approach.
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 17, 2015 at 12:31
I’m interested, but only in terrorist hunt
Captain JJ the Goo
November 17, 2015 at 12:33
I’ll take Terrorist Hunt only for $20. Otherwise GITFS
Afr1
December 18, 2015 at 20:17
To read an article about a game you’re not even slightly interested about and then comment is the weirdest way to spend your time.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 17, 2015 at 12:21
And how much do R6 credits cost? I hate how all these companies make up their own fake currencies that you need to spend real money on to buy stuff in the game you bought with real money. They’re essentially their own middleman.
Captain JJ the Goo
November 17, 2015 at 12:24
I completely agree. Maybe they’re trying to fool stupid people who can’t convert, or who are too lazy to, every time they buy something in game.
Hammersteyn
November 17, 2015 at 12:30
http://bookriotcom.c.presscdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/baby-throwing-money-gif.gif
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 17, 2015 at 12:32
Worthless paper, someone’s already drawn all over it.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
November 17, 2015 at 12:32
Bring me my bottle caps!
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
November 17, 2015 at 12:30
This is, like every other company, regurgitated faecal matter…. The fact that they don’t release these characters as free DLC will turn away a lot of gamers, be it because they want more money or whatever the case may be, it’s the filthiest, most excruciating way of extorting people that support your product… I hope, that one day I can create a game that goes against every single one of these conventions, as they are not only lacking innovation, but poor in principle….
Hammersteyn
November 17, 2015 at 12:33
I remember Rainbow Six differently…. Vegas 2 was pretty cool.
Captain JJ the Goo
November 17, 2015 at 12:34
Rainbow six as we knew it and loved it is dead.
Hammersteyn
November 17, 2015 at 12:37
Just one more series to be add to my DOA list
Alessandro Barbosa
November 17, 2015 at 12:59
Rainbow Six Vegas 1 and 2 were SO GOOD <3
40 Insane Frogs
November 17, 2015 at 12:36
Taking those mobile gaming principles and applying it to AAA titles…. So much fail!
Hammersteyn
November 17, 2015 at 12:39
Mobile games are free to start with. Charging MT on a $60 game is ludicrous. No other form of entertainment does this. But more people buy MT than those that complain. We’re slowly being shown the door those of use that don’t want to conform to these new practices.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
November 17, 2015 at 12:46
The worst part about it is that these publishers bargain on the impatient among us, not only do they bargain on it, they depend on it…
I’ve always said that if you deliver a product, deliver it in it’s entirety, simply because you want a good standing with your customers, it’s not that we are settling for MTs, it’s that we don’t make a big enough noise to stop it, we’ve been way too content with it thus far…
40 Insane Frogs
November 17, 2015 at 12:50
It’s the evolution of greed!
I can just see the following conversation happening in some boardroom.
“So let me understand, we release free games for mobile devices?”
“Yes sir”
“And then we make levelling or the gameplay laborious?
“Yes sir, but might I add that’s where microtransactions come in. The whales pay extra to unlock features faster…”
“I see, genius… pure genius… so why haven’t we done this to our AAA games yet?”
“Sir, that is why you’re the CEO… I will get Clive to sent an internal memo”
“Good Good, now fill the money vault, I need a nice swim”
Hammersteyn
November 17, 2015 at 12:56
Fill it with fire
40 Insane Frogs
November 17, 2015 at 13:23
Hammersteyn
November 17, 2015 at 14:03
hehe I remember how when you get high from the fumes the screen distorts
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
November 17, 2015 at 14:07
Hehe, does that happen in the game too?
Hammersteyn
November 17, 2015 at 14:34
XD
Hammersteyn
November 17, 2015 at 12:41
http://uproxx.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/sabrina-salem-cat-money-baby.gif?w=650
Captain JJ the Goo
November 17, 2015 at 12:44
Awesome
VampyreSquirrel
November 17, 2015 at 13:57
Salem!
Hammersteyn
November 17, 2015 at 14:02
XD