A storm is a comin’ and it’s time to get on the road! Join us as we get behind the wheel in Roadcraft, a simulation experience where the player must reconstruct terrain after massive storm events. In this clip, we are set to build a wall to protect a factory from an insane flood.
RoadCraft – Gameplay
Step into the boots of a disaster recovery expert in RoadCraft, the latest construction simulation from Saber Interactive, the creators of MudRunner and SnowRunner. Launching on May 20, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, this immersive experience places you at the helm of a company tasked with restoring industrial sites ravaged by natural disasters.
In RoadCraft, you’ll operate a diverse fleet of over 40 heavy-duty vehicles—including bulldozers, cranes, and dump trucks—to clear debris, repair infrastructure, and rebuild communities. Navigate through eight expansive 4 km² maps, each presenting unique challenges like submerged dams and abandoned factories. The game’s advanced physics engine ensures realistic interactions with materials such as wood, sand, and asphalt, adding depth to every task.
Whether you choose to tackle missions solo or team up with friends in 4-player co-op, RoadCraft offers a rich, engaging experience. Strategically plot routes for your transport convoys, manage resources efficiently, and transform devastation into thriving industry hubs.
Join us as we dive into the world of RoadCraft and showcase the tools and strategies needed to rebuild from the ground up. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth gameplay and updates!
RoadCraft Developer: Saber Interactive Publisher: Focus Entertainment Platform: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S Release Date: 20th May, 2025 Price: $39.99 USD
Recommended – “RoadCraft is an amazing simulation experience, but one that doesn’t attempt to open its doors to mainstream audiences. Those who already love this brand of games however, will surely find something very satisfying behind the wheels of this heavy machinery. ”
The roguelike deckbuilder adds German language support
[South Korea, May 16th, 2025] – Flyway Games’ historical yet fantastical roguelike deckbuilder Commander Questhas received a new update adding German language support. Released in April, Commander Quest has had several patches to address minor issues, but this newest patch marks the first time new content has been added to the game. With the new update, German players will be able to enjoy Commander Quest in their native language as they take on the role of famous historical leaders in intense card-based battles. This serves as a thank you to German players who are the third largest group of players of Commander Quest.
Key Features:
Various Races and Commanders: Become historical heroes and imbue the soul of legendary warriors into the bodies of different races while leading your army through a cute but brutal fantasy world.
Strategic Deck Building: Grow your deck with battle rewards, through shops and randomized events, and more as you make key world decisions that will shape your run.
Dangerous Battles: Summon units by placing cards on the battlefield and then watch them come to life as they fight enemy dragons, spiders, and more.
Unlock New Cards: The end of a run is just the beginning – after your run is scored, gain experience points and level-up races and commanders to unlock new cards, relics, and skills.
If you’re ready to defeat the Absolute and bring peace back to this unique fantasy realm, Commander Quest is available right now! You can also join the official Discord server to stay up to date on all things Commander Quest.
About Flyway Games
Flyway Games is a South Korea-based studio under the Krafton umbrella. It aims to earnestly provide new experiences that players have never seen before, empowering the unique and great potential of each of its developers. Beyond platform, genre, and style, Flyway games produces games cultivated by creativity first, prioritizing user feedback to build games its players want to get lost in. It is best known for games like Commander Quest and Trinity Survivors, and is working on two announced games: Waltz and Jam and Ascend to ZERO.
Solo dev’s single-player release brings the fear and the frog-based humor
Austin, Texas (May 19, 2025) – Solo developer and writer Elliott Dahle is toad-ally delighted to announce that horror action game Frog Legs is now available on PC via Steam. Short, single-player and story-driven, it follows an ordinary suburban house frog trying to run, jump, and leap away from his past.
In a ribbit-ing adventure, follow Carl and his pals as they try to live normal amphibian lives but are haunted by a devastating traffic-hopping incident that occurred many years ago. Left with no choice, our froggy friends must confront the past and try to put a stop to the chaos without them croaking first.
Between 2D arcade-style gameplay and some boomer shooter action, our group will uncover why the past is coming back to get them now. Cross perilous roads, solve puzzles and cryptic clues, and blast enemies with a Big Froggin’ Gun. Frog Legs is packed with humor and (literal) jumpscares across its 30-60 minute playtime.
Key Features of Frog Legs
An Un-Frog-ettable Experience: Carefully crafted by an experienced horror fiction writer, Frog Legs’ story can be completed in an hour.
Putting the Jump Into Jumpscare: Prepare for amphibian scares and classic style spooks.
Down the Ribbit Hole: Alongside amphibious pals you’ve been friends with since you were tadpoles, solve puzzles and investigate why the past has come back as an unfriendly reminder.
Frog Legs is available now on Windows PC via Steam for $2.99 USD, £2.49 GBP, and €2,99 EUR. It is available with a 15% launch discount for two weeks. MacOS and Linux versions are coming soon.
About Elliott Dahle
Experienced horror and sci-fi writer Elliott Dahle has been developing games since 2019. Dahle’s previously released projects include the viral PSX-style horror hit The Man in the Park. The solo developer is continuing the run of concise, yet terrifying titles with Frog Legs.
Prepare to embark on a magical journey of friendship, imagination, and song as the Kickstarter campaign for Echoes of the Unread, a brand new adventure for the NES, is now live.
Developed by Clever Cat Games and published by Mega Cat Studios, Echoes of the Unread puts players in the shoes of Rhapsody, a young girl who, after falling asleep while studying in the library, awakens to a strange world where the books have come to life and her voice has the power to shape the world around her with song.
To find her way back home, Rhapsody must step into the pages of these tales and explore a variety of imaginative realms where they’ll befriend a cowboy, serenade a mermaid, outsmart a mischievous ghost, and sing mystical melodies to escape the clutches of the wicked magician Odele, who hopes to keep her trapped in the library forever.
To celebrate the Kickstarter’s launch, Mega Cat Studios has released a new trailer for the game. This exciting new footage offers a tantalizing look at the various worlds Rhapsody will explore, Odele’s menacing minions she’ll encounter, and the colorful cast of characters she’ll befriend over the course of her enchanted adventure.
Key Features:
Sing to solve puzzles, battle foes, and uncover secrets
Journey through whimsical worlds inspired by book genres
Unlock magical abilities that will aid you in your quest
Befriend quirky characters and shape your own story
Test your skills in a challenging retro mode
Backers can get their hands on a wide selection of enchanted rewards. These range from all-digital bundles featuring the game, art book, OST, and more to the Hidden Book Edition, which comes filled to the brim with a treasure trove of physical goodies, including the Limited Edition CIB game, poster, vinyl soundtrack, art book, shadow box art, decorative bookends, and so much more.
About Mega Cat Studios
Proudly based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mega Cat Studios has a passion for creating unforgettable retro experiences for your favorite classic consoles.
London, United Kingdom – 20th May 2025 – The excitement reached new heights as young primary school footballers from across the nation came together at Stoke City Stadium for the finals of the 2025/26 Pokémon Primary Schools’ Cup. After a spectacular season that saw over 50,000 children from primary schools take part, the winners were crowned National Champions and lifted the trophy whilst cheered on by Pikachu.
Now in its third year, the multi-year partnership between the English Schools’ Football Association (ESFA) and The Pokémon Company International continues to flourish—and this season the tournament wasn’t just about competition—it was about community, teamwork, and friendship. Players showed off their impressive football skills, grew closer with their teammates, and made countless memories along the way.
The 2025/26 National Finals winners are:
U11 Schools’ Cup Champions: Wolfson Hillel Primary School
U11 Girls’ Cup Champions: Valley Gardens Middle School
U11 Small Schools’ Cup Champions: Kelsall Community Primary School
“The energy at this year’s Pokémon Primary Schools’ Cup Finals was nothing short of inspiring. From the first whistle to the final celebration, these young players brought heart, determination, and incredible talent to the pitch. It’s moments like these—where teamwork, joy, and community come together. Congratulations to everyone who took part this season,” said Peter Murphy, Senior Director of Marketing at The Pokémon Company International. “We’re proud to continue our work with the ESFA, helping to create spaces where children can thrive, connect, and fall in love with the beautiful game.”
Nick Loftus, ESFA Chair said, “It has been a great pleasure for me to be involved with the Pokémon Primary Schools’ Cup from its origins in the district round, to the County round, Regional finals and now today the National finals. To see football played by boys and girls in our primary schools in such a good spirited way has been incredible, the attitude of the players in the primary schools’ cup competitions that I’ve had the privilege of watching this season has been exemplary. Pupils have played with smiles on their faces and clearly enjoyed the whole experience. On behalf of the ESFA I would like to congratulate the three winners from today’s final and thank all of the schools that took part in the Pokémon Primary Schools’ Cup competitions this season and I hope each and every player has been inspired to continue on their footballing journey as they head towards the new school year”.
The U11 Schools’ Cup, U11 Girls’ Cup and U11 Small Schools’ Cup competitions provide a pathway for teams to progress through three rounds of competition, culminating in the National Finals.
The Pokémon Company International is on a mission to delight their fans through excellent products and meaningful experiences. Through initiatives like the Pokémon Primary Schools’ Cup, there is continued support of the development of young talent while spreading joy and connection through sport.
Schools who would like to join the action in the 2025/206 season can contact their local County Schools’ FA to get involved in next year’s local rounds. More information can be found here.
About Pokémon
The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, please visit www.pokemon.co.uk.
About the English Schools’ FA
Since its formation in 1904, the English Schools’ Football Association has become the National Governing Body for Schools’ Football in England. The Association provides over 1 million footballing opportunities for school pupils in England, each year.
The Association generates footballing activity for around 700,000 children across the country each season, with over 100,000 pupils taking part in National Schools’ Cup competitions. The ESFA consistently works to create new and improved opportunities for schools’ football players in England, whilst working hard to create equal and inclusive access to the sport, in particular its provision of girls’ football.
The ESFA prides itself on its educational ethos and it values the importance of football in the classroom as much as on the pitch with the Association creating plenty of opportunities to celebrate all the wide-reaching benefits of Schools’ Football. For more information about the ESFA and its many campaigns, including Schools’ Football Week, you can visit the ESFA website or follow @schoolsfoootball on Twitter and Instagram
Xbox, Bethesda Softworks and The Firepit Company bring demon-slaying drama to the UK’s most iconic gardening event, May 20-24
London, United Kingdom, May 19th – The gardening and gaming worlds unite in a unique lifestyle collaboration between leading bespoke firepit designers The Firepit Company, gaming giant Xbox, and leading publisher Bethesda Softworks. This partnership brings forth a hellish DOOM: The Dark Ages display at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, London, from May 20th – 24th, seamlessly blending the game’s take on medieval stylings with cutting edge craftsmanship, perfect for sharing the adventure with the public!
The giant installation features a series of epic floral displays at London’s premier gardening event, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Each arrangement features a unique blend of angelic, ethereal garden and DOOM’s dark, medieval aesthetic. At the centerpiece is the DOOM: The Dark Ages-inspired firepit, which includes intricate demons and elaborate adversaries from the game. The Slayer dominates this hellscape and is surrounded and consumed by an arrangement of dark flowers, including Julisa (‘Black Hero’), Centaurea Cyanus (‘Black Ball’), Petunia (‘Black Velvet’) and Zantedeschia (‘Odessa’), as well as a meticulously carved slate pedestal, with the Slayer’s signature symbol slashed across the stone, transforming the event itself into the ‘Chelsea Fire Show’.
“This partnership with the Firepit Company adds a literal spark as we celebrate the 15th May launch of DOOM: The Dark Ages, said Steve Merrett, Marketing & Communications Director for Northern Europe at Bethesda. “Its amazing to see how DOOM: The Dark Ages’s unique visual style has been adapted into a centrepiece worthy of any outdoor area. Blending fire, stone and vivid blooms into something bold and iconic that pays homage to this year’s most anticipated action title.”
“DOOM was my first foray into action gaming and introduced me to a love of gaming,” said Jason Andre, Managing Director of The Firepit Company. When we first spoke about creating something special for DOOM: The Dark Ages I was instantly hooked on the idea! It has been a pleasure to work on such an iconic piece and the whole team is excited to see the pieces being enjoyed!”
The firepit displays will be available at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, London, from Tuesday 20th May to Saturday 24th May. This collaboration offers a unique opportunity for gardening and gaming fans to witness the intensity of DOOM: The Dark Ages directly.
About Bethesda Softworks
Bethesda Softworks, part of the ZeniMax Media Inc. group of companies, is a worldwide publisher of interactive entertainment software. Titles published under Bethesda Softworks include such blockbuster franchises as The Elder Scrolls™, Fallout™, DOOM™, QUAKE™, Wolfenstein™, Dishonored™, The Evil Within™, and also Prey™, RAGE™, DEATHLOOP™, Redfall™, Ghostwire™: Tokyo, and Starfield™. Bethesda Softworks and all the precited titles are trademarks of the ZeniMax group of companies. All rights reserved. For more information on Bethesda Softworks’ products, visit www.bethesda.net.
About Firepit Co
For over a decade, The Firepit Company has been renowned for crafting bespoke sculptural firepits and steel art pieces that enhance outdoor spaces. Under the leadership of Managing Director Jason André, the company produces functional yet artistic firepits that serve as striking centrepieces for gardens and patios. Their work is celebrated for its craftsmanship, customizability, and ability to elevate any outdoor setting.
About the DOOM: The Dark Ages Installation
The DOOM: The Dark Ages garden display is a creative collaboration between Xbox, Bethesda Softworks, and The Firepit Company. Featuring immersive firepits and a corrupted celestial garden inspired by the latest DOOM title, this showcase redefines what’s possible at RHS Chelsea Flower Show — where fire, fantasy, and flora collide.
Step into a gothic RPG where necromancy is both a gift and a curse. How far will you go for power? Updated Demo LIve Now on Steam!
May 19, 2025 – Psychic Software invites players to explore the depths of dark magic with the launch of an updated demo for The Necromancer’s Tale available now on PC via Steam. A top-down, story-rich gothic RPG with an isometric viewpoint, the game blends narrative-driven exploration with the chilling rituals of necromancy, all set against the haunting backdrop of 18th-century Italy.
In The Necromancer’s Tale, players assume the role of a minor noble thrust into the dark arts, mastering forbidden rituals and commanding an army of the undead. Unlike conventional RPGs, necromancy is not just a skill—it’s an immersive journey into secrecy, manipulation, and moral decay. Inspired by titles like Disco Elysium and Pillars of Eternity, this dark origin story is the first of its kind to explore what it truly means to become a necromancer, unraveling mysteries of death and power in a richly layered narrative spanning over 400,000 words, and 180+ NPCs.
The game’s branching dialogue and faction-based trust system mean that every choice matters. Game Director Sam Redfern and Marketing Director Kirsty Halloran capture this vision perfectly, stating: “In The Necromancer’s Tale, necromancy isn’t just another branch of magic—it’s the heart of the story. It’s about choice, sacrifice, and the slow, inevitable pull of darkness. We want players to feel the weight of every decision, every ritual, and every life they take—or bring back.”
What you say, and what you are seen doing, can alter the course of events, leading to either powerful alliances or dangerous enemies. The narrative is heavily influenced by H.P. Lovecraft, offering a realistic world where terrors hide in the shadows, pushing the boundaries of political intrigue and moral ambiguity.
Key Gameplay Features
Master the Dark Arts: Experience necromancy like never before. Command the dead and perform forbidden rituals
Turn-Based Combat: The game features tactical turn-based combat, commanding your allies and undead minions against natural and supernatural foes. A combat auto-resolve system is offered to those who would prefer to focus on the narrative.
Forge Powerful Alliances: Influence factions through dialogue, espionage, and dark magic, where every choice has lasting consequences.
Uncover Secrets of the Dead: Communicate with spirits, unearth dark conspiracies, and rewrite the fate of the living and the dead.
A Living, Breathing World: Explore an 18th Century alt-history that blurs the lines between magic and science, necromancy and medicine, alchemy and chemistry. Unfolding plots tackle themes of political unrest, societal decay, and the ethics of power.
Game Length: Expect a rich journey lasting between 25 to 50 hours, depending on your choices and exploration of hidden dungeons and side quests.
Steam Demo: Get a hands-on experience with the game’s opening chapters, and enjoy an exciting Dungeon Crawl.
Based in Galway, West of Ireland, Psychic Software is an award-winning game studio whose founders have been making games since the 1980s, collaborating with various artists, musicians, and other game studios. Psychic Software’s published games range from a car-combat MMO, live and online since 2006, to casual smartphone puzzle games achieving millions of downloads, arcade-adventures, platformers, multiplayer online racers, CRPGs, and more. Sam, a veteran indie dev, launched his first commercial game in 1984 as a code listing in a magazine. The Necromancer’s Tale was co-funded by the Creative Media Programme of the European Union.
Get ready to join the fight and battle to save the world!
Madrid, Spain – 19 May 2025. Meridiem is thrilled to announce that the physical Elsie – Magitek Edition will launch for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch on 10th July, 2025. Developed by Knight Shift Games and digitally published by Playtonic Friends, this technicolour, hyperkinetic, rogue-like action-platformer is filled with procedurally generated levels, an army of robots to blast through, and a wide scope of items and weaponry to make each run unique.
Meridiem is responsible for designing and manufacturing the physical Magitek Edition of Elsiefor PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch and will include a copy of the game, a special case, a sticker sheet and a character book!
Welcome to the planet Ekis, a bountiful world filled with natural resources and scientific discovery! There is chaos amongst this wonder however, in a world awash with natural disasters. Our story begins with Dr Grey, a talented scientist who engineered a team of high-tech androids with the power to prevent these disasters. These Androids were known as “The Guardians”.
The Guardian’s true power lay in the Arclight Core, an energy source that allowed them to bend the elements to their will. The world rejoiced in a new age of peace and safety, but this peace was short lived – as one day without warning or explanation, the Guardians disappeared.
Winds whipped, seas surged, and a newfound threat quickly emerged as an army of robots laid siege to Dr Grey’s home, the city of Neotoño.
Amidst the chaos and threat of more disasters, Dr Grey forged one final android…Elsie. Built like none before her, she must find the Guardians and save planet Ekis.
Features
Bullet Hell Ballet: dash, dive, and shoot your way through stages filled with dynamic enemies, all while performing perfectly timed precision parrying.
Death is only the beginning: in this roguelike rollercoaster die and die and die again – but you’ll always get back on your feet to embrace the chaos.
Explore the technicolour Domains of Planet Ekis: take a tour of Planet Ekis’s vibrant neon-drenched biomes. With procedural generation leading to everchanging levels, each run presents unique challenges and enemies.
Augmented Action and Character Customization: make strategic decisions on upgrades, skills, and weapons to drastically alter the dynamic of each run. Experiment with different playstyles for devastating synergies.
Challenge epic boss battles and conquer biome Guardians: test your skills against boisterous bots, massive bosses and biome Guardians, memorising patterns to emerge victorious.
Master Melee Combat with a second player character: join the fray with Andru, a melee-based character featuring unique augments, weapons, and abilities. Get up close and personal to bash baddies and bring the noise!
Elsie – Magitek Edition will launch as a physical edition for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch on 10 July 2025.
About Meridiem
We are Meridiem, a video game publisher and distributor in love with its culture, which we protect and pass on in order to preserve it. We do this by fostering talent through investment in independent projects with potential, bringing back classic titles, promising indies and AAA games while continuing to support the physical format. When we stop working on video games, we celebrate by playing video games. https://meridiem-games.com/
The May update for World of Warships: Legends also sees the introduction of the German Legendary tier battleships Preußen, new events, and much more
May 19, 2025 – Wargaming, the developer and publisher of the leading cross-platform naval multiplayer game World of Warships: Legends, is coming in with a boatload of content for May and June. The seas are set to become more dangerous, as World of Warships: Legends makes its first steps on Steam with a closed beta test taking place this month. In addition, the German Legendary tier battleship Preußen becomes available via a new campaign, a new Retrofuturistic event arrives, and events tied to the Battle of Jutland and the Hunt for Bismarck round out the update.
World of Warships: Legends brings fast-paced action to Steam
The popular console and mobile version of the franchise, World of Warships: Legends, is preparing to dock on Steam. Since 2019, the game has ushered in millions of players across multiple platforms, and now, the energetic battles on the high seas are making the jump to PC via Steam, with over 500 warships and more than 100 Commanders available at launch.
World of Warships: Legends on PC continues the entry’s action-packed combat, with easy-to-learn gameplay and intuitive controls. A closed beta test will be taking place from May 23 until May 26, with sign-ups now available via the official Steam store page. During this period, participants will be able to test the Versus AI, Arcade, and Standard battle types, with ship Tech Trees, Commanders, divisions, campaigns, and missions also available. Other major features, such as additional battle types, Bureau Projects, Fleets, crossplay, and more, will be introduced later in the full version.
Players are invited to share feedback on controls, performance improvements, and any potential issues that may arise during the closed beta period, to ensure Steam players get a smooth and polished experience when World of Warships: Legends launches. Plans are also underway to ensure the game is supported on Steam Deck, allowing aspiring captains to take their battles on the go.
The German battleship Preußen and new events arrive in World of Warships: Legends
As for World of Warships: Legends players on console and mobile, the May update also sees the arrival of the German Legendary Tier battleship Preußen, which will be available via a new six-week campaign. Continuing the theme of German vessels, German Legendary Tier cruiser Hindenburg continues its marathon, allowing players to continue working towards unlocking this ship.
May also sees events galore, with the Hunt for Bismarck event offering the Unsinkable Sam Commander guise as its main reward. The Battle of Jutland joins alongside, featuring new Premium ships such as German Tier IV battleship Moltke, British T
ier IV battleship Indefatigable, and German Tier VI cruiser Leipzig. Finally, the May update wraps up with brand-new Brawl and Fleet Cup seasons available for players to test their strength, and much more.
About World of Warships: Legends
Experience epic naval action in World of Warships: Legends, a massively multiplayer online game where you can master the seas in history’s greatest warships! Recruit Legendary Commanders from maritime history, upgrade your vessels, and stake your claim to naval supremacy with or against players from around the world in thrilling and immersive battles.
World of Warships: Legends brings the online naval action loved by millions to home consoles and mobile for the very first time, alongside a host of content and features exclusive to the console experience.
Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Operating since 1998, Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry. Its 15 offices around the world include studios in Chicago, Prague, Shanghai, Tokyo, Vilnius, Belgrade, and Kyiv. Millions of players enjoy Wargaming’s titles across all major gaming platforms. Its flagship products include the free-to-play hits World of Tanks, World of Tanks Blitz, World of Warships, World of Warships: Legends, and World of Warships Blitz.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – 19 May, 2025 – A new era of Rainbow Six Siege kicks off on 10 June with the launch of Siege X and the introduction of Free Access, Dual Front (the new 6v6 game mode for current gen consoles and PC), modernized maps, destructible ingredients, improved rappel navigation, an audio overhaul, and more as part of a wide-ranging suite of upgrades, improvements, and refinements.
10 June also marks the launch of Operation Daybreak (Year 10 Season 2) which will deliver an Operator remaster for Clash; balancing updates for Jackal, Sledge, Thunderbird, Jäger, and Blackbeard; changes to electricity and limb damage; and more. These updates will be free for all Siege X players, including those who download and play through Free Access.
And that’s not all! Read on for a sneak peek at Season 3 and Season 4, coming later this year, as well as details on R6 ShieldGuard: the team’s ever-evolving approach to fighting cheating and toxicity to ensure a fair and competitive environment for all players.
Siege X
Siege X is the next evolution of Rainbow Six Siege that is free for all players who already own the game. It’s also introducing Free Access, which means anyone can hop in for free and play the Quick Match, Unranked, and Dual Front modes, and enjoy all of the upgrades delivered with Siege X. Keep an eye out for newly placed destructible ingredients in every map, including explosive gas pipes, vision-clouding smoke detectors, and interactable metal detectors. Player movement will be more fluid thanks to the advanced rappel navigation allowing sprinting and turning corners, as well as the momentum movement improvement.
Siege X also introduces map modernization, a process through which the Siege team improves existing maps with boast new lighting and shadows, as well as higher resolution. Five maps will be modernized on 10 June, with three more maps getting the upgrade each season. The audio system is also being overhauled, the result of which will be clearer, more accurate audio cues to help you gain richer intel about what’s happening around you.
You’ll be able to make callouts more effectively with the new communication wheel, and show off your cosmetic style with the new weapon inspect feature. And whether you’re refining your competitive strategy with the new pick and ban system in Ranked matches, or learning the ropes faster and more thoroughly with the new onboarding flow, you’ll benefit from the extensive upgrades and refinements throughout the game. More details can be found in our Siege X Showcase recap article from the Siege X Showcase in March.
But there’s more! At the recent RE:LO:AD esports event in Rio de Janeiro, more details were revealed on updates coming with Siege X, including an in-game esports tab that will allow easy access to keep up with the best Siege competition around the globe. New beginner challenges and onboarding flow will offer in-game rewards to diligent new players, and experienced players will progress faster through the clearance levels with a new XP curve. Follow your progress with the new career stats tracker as you review your performance in different playlists by checking your stats, including the K.O.S.T. stat that esports fans will recognize as a popular metric in pro play.
The new Enlisted and Field Training playlists will cater to new and returning players, respectively, giving each a customizable practice arena to fight on full maps against AI bots trained on real player behaviours. Whether you’re training solo or playing matches against other players, you’ll now hear the voices of the Operators more often as the new Operator banter feature will bring new dialogue lines that illuminate the personalities and relationships between the characters.
PC players can get an early taste of Siege X in action in the test server session, starting on 20 May at 11 PM AEST and running through 9 June at 11 PM AEST. The session is open to all players who already own Rainbow Six Siege on PC, and the test server tile should automatically appear in your Ubisoft Connect library. If it doesn’t, you can register for the test server via the Ubisoft Connect website.
Operation Daybreak (Season 2)
Coinciding with the launch of Siege X is the start of Operation Daybreak, the second season of Rainbow Six Siege Year 10. This season brings of host of balancing updates for various Operators, changes to electricity and limb damage, as well as an Operator remaster for Clash.
Clash is the first Defender to ever wield a shield, and it’s her CCE Shield that has received some significant upgrades. She can now deploy her CCE Shield MK2, freeing her to move more quickly and position herself to play off of her shield’s stationary position. While the shield is deployed, Clash can operate its taser remotely, applying the shocking and slowing effect in a broad cone-shaped area. Defenders looking to remove this obstacle can use explosives or, if they get close enough, simply burst through the shield and destroy it (but beware, Clash or her allies can also execute this burst-through manoeuvre for a surprise attack).
Clash can still play with her shield in-hand or on her back as well, and it’s been updated to automatically collapse and expand as she sprints, crouches, vaults, and crashes through barricades. She can deploy it, pick it back up, and put down somewhere else. It’s more nimble, more versatile, and gives Clash more ways to be an absolute force on the defending team.
Some notable balancing updates will also arrive with Operation Daybreak.
Electricity will no longer damage any Operators. It will be a neutral element that will still have a slowing effect on Operators, and will destroy gadgets regardless of team affiliation.
Limb damage will be reduced, making it more important than ever to aim for centre mass or heads.
Shield Operators will no longer be able to aim down sights while vaulting or dropping from higher levels.
Blackbeard’s shield glass has been tinted to make it easier to see if it’s up or down.
Jackal will only ping an enemy position one time after scanning footprints, and the footprints will disappear immediately after being scanned. He will also be able to use it five times, an increase from the current three.
Jäger will now be able to eliminate Capitão’s bolts and Gridlock’s Trax Stingers with his Active Defense System.
Thunderbird will no longer allow enemies to heal from her Kona Stations (unless Brava’s Kludge Drone takes them over).
Sledge will be able to knock down shield users he comes across (which he is likely to do more often now that attackers and defenders can be on the same team in Dual Front). Operation Daybreak is launching on June 10, read the full news breakdown on the official Rainbow Six Siege website.
R6 ShieldGuard and Anti-Toxicity
Introduced earlier this year, R6 ShieldGuard is the unification of game security and anti-cheat tools developed by the Rainbow Six Siege team to help ensure fair competition for everyone. Thanks to the introduction of new security hardening tech in Season 1, Operation Prep Phase, cheat reports are trending down as more cheaters are being banned. Season 2 will bring a major security update as well as a powerful change to how updates are delivered. Soon, the unified anti-cheat system will be fully dynamic, allowing the dev team to push a new game executable directly to players at any time during the season and making it significantly more difficult for cheat-makers to adapt. This proactive approach will continue throughout Seasons 3 & 4 as the team works with pro players and the community to continually refine their systems.
In addition to protecting the competitive fairness of Siege X, the team is also focused on making the game more respectful and secure for all players. The now-fully activated Reputation System has seen the number of negative actions decrease, including a drop in abusive language, while text chat usage has increased along with reports of positive actions in-game. Seasons 3 & 4 will continue to bolster these efforts with voice chat moderation, new Reputation System actions, and improvements to privacy settings, abandon penalties, and in-game reports.
Seasons 3 & 4
Looking ahead to seasons beyond Operation Daybreak, the Siege X team has shared some tidbits about what’s on the roadmap for later this year. Season 3 will bring three more modernized maps – Nighthaven, Lair, and Consulate – as well as assignment changes in Dual Front with narrative ties to the new Operator. This new Defender will hail from Switzerland and introduce a new weapon to the game. Players looking for a true competitive challenge will have plenty of opportunities when the Siege Cup becomes available every weekend, and allows you to inspect the stats of your opponents before the match begins. Plus, be on the lookout for a returning Halloween event on a new map.
Season 4 will mark the 10-year anniversary of Rainbow Six Siege, and a special in-game event is planned to celebrate the occasion. The season will also deliver an Operator remaster of an Attacker, as well as another new weapon that will, for the first time, be available for multiple Operators upon release (first as part of the battlepass, and later to everyone). Two more modernized maps are inbound – Theme Park and Skyscraper – in addition to a full rework and modernization for a third map. Significant updates for the training modes, including Keres Legion targets instead of test dummies, are also coming in Season 4, plus improvements to ranked matchmaking, a new Dual Front assignment, and continued balancing work that will address EMP and jamming systems. Finally, a new playlist called Testing Grounds will serve as a place for the team to explore new ideas and gather feedback as they shape the future of Siege X.
The full reveals of seasons 3 & 4 will come later in 2025, but suffice to say it’s a big year for Rainbow Six Siege X. The Year 10 dynamic roadmap is also available on the official Rainbow Six Siege website.
Rainbow Six Siege X is available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Ubisoft Connect, Steam, and Epic Games, as well as with a Ubisoft+ Premium subscription.
