Gamers are getting used to the idea of paying for downloadable content — just look at the obligatory map packs for the annual Call of Duty and Battlefield releases. But Ubisoft is taking an unusual stance with the upcoming Rainbow Six: Siege.
All maps for the multiplayer tactical shooter — which releases December 1 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC — will be free to all players, even those maps that appear post-launch. In a statement sent to Eurogamer, Ubisoft said, “At launch, Rainbow Six: Siege will have 11 maps, playable both day or night, all using the full potential of our Real Blast destruction technology. In addition, all post-launch maps will be downloadable for free.”
Rainbow Six: Siege doesn’t feature a traditional story mode. Instead, the focus is multiplayer, alongside missions that you can tackle solo or cooperatively. With multiplayer, building and maintaining a strong community is key to success, and Ubisoft’s move is designed to foster that kind of committed player base.
“We want players to stay with us for the long-term,” said Ubisoft, “and have ambitious post-launch plans that we will detail at a later stage.”
Of course, the fact that Ubisoft is giving away all post-launch maps doesn’t mean we won’t see other paid downloadable content appearing for Rainbow Six: Siege, such as character skins and weapons.