In a crossover that feels like a fever dream for stealth-action fans like me, Ubisoft has officially announced that the legendary infiltrator himself, Solid Snake, is joining the roster of Rainbow Six Siege.
Launching with Operation Silent Hunt on March 3rd, this isn’t just a cosmetic skin. Snake is arriving as a permanent, fully-realized Attacker, bringing iconic Metal Gear mechanics into the tactical world of Siege. Much like Sam Fisher before.
This is so cool, it’s literally going to get me to play Siege again and likely spend money. I loved the Sam Fisher crossover, and Solid Snake feels like a great addition.
Here is everything you need to know about the man from Shadow Moses entering the fray.
The Gadget: Soliton Radar MKIII
Snake’s primary gadget is the Soliton Radar MKIII. For those who spent hours staring at the top-right corner of their screens in 1998, this will feel very familiar. It’s a handheld device that maps out the floorplan of Snake’s immediate surroundings.
- Intel Gathering: It detects enemies in the area, displaying their positions and vision cones when used in “Precision Mode.”
- Destruction Awareness: The radar highlights soft walls and floors, helping you plan those vertical plays or unexpected breaches.
- Counters: It’s not invincible. Mute jammers, Vigil’s cloak, and Alibi’s holograms can all deceive the radar, so you can’t just follow the dots blindly.
The Ability: On-Site Procurement (OSP)
Staying true to the “OSP” philosophy of the Metal Gear series, Snake starts the match with very little. While other Operators bring a full belt of utility, Snake begins with only one gadget.
However, he can scavenge Utility Pouches from eliminated players (friend or foe). He has five slots (Frag, Stun, Smoke, EMP, and Breach), allowing him to adapt his loadout mid-round based on what he finds on the battlefield.
It’s a high-risk, high-reward mechanic that rewards players who survive into the late game.
Iconic Loadout & Gear
Snake comes swinging with some heavy-hitting options:
Primaries: The PMR90A2 (DMR) or the F2 (Assault Rifle). Notably, the F2 is getting a buff this season with new grip attachments.
Secondary: The TACIT .45. This brand-new pistol features an integrated suppressor and reflex sight, perfect for taking out gadgets (and defenders) without making a sound.
The “Silent Hunt” Battle Pass & Event
The collaboration goes deeper than just one operator. The Season Pass will feature a Psycho Mantis outfit for Smoke (which is frankly terrifying) and other Metal Gear-themed cosmetics.
Later in the season, a limited-time event will see a legendary team-up: Solid Snake and Zero (Sam Fisher).
Seeing the icons of Metal Gear and Splinter Cell standing side-by-side in a 4v4 infiltration mode is something we never thought we’d see. This just works for me at a very core level.
Solid Snake!
Operation Silent Hunt looks like one of the most ambitious seasons in years. Between the OSP mechanic and the Soliton Radar, Snake feels like a high-skill ceiling operator that could shift the meta for intel-heavy teams.
I nearly got excited when Rainbow Six Siege became Siege X, but it wasn’t enough to draw me in. Solid Snake, however, is a different story entirely. This is sucha great move by Ubisoft and Konami.
It’s been a while, so it’s time shake-off the Siege rust and get practicing again. I wonder how much the game has changed since the last time? Between this and the re-invigoration of Overwatch. It feels like my classic favourite onlie FPS games are kicking and screaming again. I could do with more time to commit to them all, so lets see what delivers and what doesn’t.
Operation Silent Hunt drops March 3rd. Get your cardboard boxes ready, we’ll report back as soon as possible.
