Rainbow Six Siege Creative Director’s Perspective on Game Engine and Sequel
2 min read
Rainbow Six Siege, a nine-year-old competitive and demanding game, has been a topic of discussion for those who believe it needs a significant upgrade. The game’s creative director, Alexander Karpazis, has expressed his views on the matter, stating that switching engines or creating a sequel could potentially harm the game rather than benefit it.
In a group interview at the Siege Invitational 2024, Karpazis argued that the labor of getting the same features working on a different engine isn’t worth the risk of sabotaging the game currently being played. He cited examples of games that underwent sequels and suffered as a result, stating that it can be frustrating, costly, and ultimately unproductive.
The idea of switching engines to something off-the-shelf ready doesn’t answer the needs of a game like Siege, according to Karpazis. Instead, he believes that building upon what they already have is the key to success. This perspective is a counterpoint to the argument that a new engine or sequel is necessary for a game to thrive.
When considering which games Karpazis might be referring to, it’s worth noting that Overwatch 2, Warzone 2, and Destiny 2 have all undergone significant changes, with varying degrees of success. Overwatch 2, for instance, promised PVE missions but ultimately failed to deliver, leading to disappointment among players. Warzone 2 mixed things up initially but eventually reverted back to the original Warzone, while the quality of Destiny 2 and its expansions has ebbed and flowed.
However, it’s important to note that Counter-Strike: Global Offensive was recently replaced by CS:2, which some argue is a worthy successor. Valve’s approach to the engine swap was careful, and they added greater depth with little details while implementing server and update improvements. This example demonstrates that when an engine swap is performed with care, it can be beneficial to both the player and the developer.
Rainbow Six Siege’s success can be attributed to its competitive nature, which requires a high level of consistency and reliability. A new engine or sequel could potentially introduce unforeseen issues, making it a risky proposition. Instead, Ubisoft has focused on refining the game and adding new content, such as the Irish weapons expert defender Thorn, to keep the player base engaged.
In conclusion, Rainbow Six Siege’s creative director, Alexander Karpazis, believes that the game doesn’t need a new engine or sequel to continue thriving. His perspective is that the labor of getting the same features working on a different engine isn’t worth the risk of sabotaging the game currently being played. Instead, building upon what they already have is the key to success. This approach has served Rainbow Six Siege well, and it will be interesting to see how Ubisoft continues to refine and expand upon the game in the future.
