Rainbow Six Siege X First Look: Dual Front Mode Revitalizes the Decade-Old FPS

Back in my high school days, I used to spend nights glued to my PC, caught in the throes of gaming marathons that stretched into the wee hours. There was even a memorable instance where I pulled an epic five-day stint just to conquer Baldur’s Gate II: Throne of Bhaal. But what truly captivated me about PC games was their boundless creativity.

One game, in particular, that sparked my imagination was Red Faction. It initially drew me in with its similarities to DOOM—a first-person shooter set on Mars, no less. Yet, it introduced a groundbreaking feature that set it apart: terrain deformation. The game placed you in the Martian mines, where you could unleash explosive firepower on walls to create holes, demolish barriers, or even carve out tunnels to bypass checkpoints. The freedom to carve your own path and tackle objectives in unique ways was nothing short of exhilarating.

Despite that innovation, the years following saw little evolution in this concept until Rainbow Six Siege stepped onto the scene. The ability to traverse and rappel across buildings and obliterate walls and ceilings brought a warm wave of nostalgia for my Red Faction days.

Siege started off as a tightly-contained experience, and now with the forthcoming Siege X update, it’s poised for significant changes. Alongside enhancements in graphics, sound, and user interface, it introduces an intriguing new permanent multiplayer mode: Dual Front.

In Dual Front, you’re faced with a designated seasonal Operator pool and expanded team sizes of six players per side. Instead of a single target area, the action spreads across three large zones, each hosting its own objective. This shift requires teams to strategize, splitting up to simultaneously attack and defend different locations.

While the game’s scope has widened, its core essence remains intact. Matches kick off with each team spawning in their squad HQ, as one of two locations in their sector initiates a countdown to a Defend mission. Your opponents face the same challenge, necessitating both defense at one spot and an offensive push at another. How you navigate this balance is entirely up to you.

There’s also a neutral territory between the opposing zones, where additional objectives sporadically surface. These tasks—like rescuing hostages and getting them safely out—can tilt the scales in your team’s favor, offering a chance to succeed even if initial plans falter.

Dual Front’s expanded battlefield required me to seamlessly switch roles between attack and defense to adapt to team needs, fostering highly dynamic matchups compared to traditional Siege games. The result was a chaotic but immensely enjoyable experience.

This new mode isn’t just fun; it’s chaotic in the best way imaginable. Every month, the available Operator pool refreshes, encouraging teams to adapt their tactics on-the-fly. Quick respawns allow for swift shifts in strategy, keeping players on their toes.

During my preview runs, I often dashed across maps to support teammates fiercely holding the line against enemy assaults. Sometimes I’d reach just in time to turn the tide, other times, we’d be blindsided by enemy reinforcements. Navigating Dual Front’s sprawling environments consistently delivered nail-biting tension, as enemy locations remained elusive until they became pressing “Capital-P” problems.

To explore these vast spaces, players can now rappel around corners or sprint while descending, providing more avenues to infiltrate enemy structures. New gameplay elements—such as destructible fire extinguishers, gas pipes, and deactivatable metal detectors—offer fresh tactical layers, ensuring every playthrough brings something new.

Siege X also marks a shift toward a free-to-play model. Casual modes like onboarding playlists, unranked quickplay, and Dual Front will be accessible without cost, including access to up to 26 Operators and skins. However, modes like Siege Cup and Ranked, which provide access to all 50 Operators, will be available through purchases. For those already in the Siege community, you’ll retain everything you own and get some exclusive perks based on your tenure.

Additionally, the Siege X update revamps five existing maps, introduces visual and audio enhancements, presents an updated UI, optimized player onboarding, weapon inspection features, and heaps more. The dev team is also committed to introducing a new Operator—or refreshing an existing one—each season.

Yet, amidst all these updates, it’s Dual Front that stands out as a potential favorite. As Siege nears its tenth anniversary, this new mode might just become my staple go-to every time I log into the game.