At the E3 2021 , Ubisoft will present its new project, Rainbow Six: Extraction. The co-op shooter takes place in the well-known universe of “Rainbow Six,” based on the works of author Tom Clancy, and is expected to use the tactical shooter Rainbow Six Siege as its foundation. MeinMMO author Benedict Grothaus hopes that some of the features from Siege will also be carried over to Extraction.
If you’re wondering what Extraction is: The project was originally known as Rainbow Six: Quarantine, and there were rumors in early 2021 that it would be renamed to Parasite – apparently as a reaction to the Corona pandemic.
Shortly before the E3, the developers revealed that Quarantine is now called Extraction and they showed a few new scenes. The complete presentation will be on Saturday, April 12, starting at 8:00 PM during Ubisoft Forward. More about this in our news: What to expect at Ubisoft Forward – All info on the big Ubi show
Rainbow Six: Extraction is a co-op shooter based on the PvE mode Outbreak from Rainbow Six Siege. It’s about a parasite that has broken out and is infecting everything. As players, you are to prevent that.
To do this, you proceed together and play various characters, called Operators, with special abilities. However, not much is known yet about the game modes and playable heroes.
I believe: If Extraction is a co-op shooter like many others, it will be boring – that’s my opinion. PvE games like GTFO, PayDay, and Left4Dead are simply too many already. But with some features from Siege, Extraction could definitely stand out and be really good.
1. Destructible Environment
An important feature in Siege is walls and floors/ceilings made of wood that can be destroyed with weapons and explosives. In PvP, this is an important factor to bypass enemy defenses or to initiate flanking attacks.
While this is a tactical element that can also have a place in a PvE shooter, many co-op shooters suffer from the problem that the levels are extremely linear.
You typically only have one way forward and one back, maybe with a few rooms on the left and right – occasionally a predefined, hidden path. But rarely do you have the opportunity to clear your own way. Even Escape from Tarkov gets this feature.
Since Extraction is already based on Siege and the feature is present in the base game, the technical implementation should certainly be possible. It would be much more exciting not to have to struggle your way through parasites, but rather to blow up a wall to clear an alternative path – or inadvertently attract enemies with the detonation.
2. All 60 Operators
In Rainbow Six Siege there are now 60 Operators, the latest being the defender Thunderbird. She comes into play with Season 2 of Year 6. Each Operator in Siege has their own weapons, equipment, and a unique gadget.
These gadgets give each character a specific role within the team that they can fulfill and allow for varying degrees of good synergy with other players. This way, there are countless operator combinations that can work really well together.
This kind of selection would also be desirable for Extraction. Often, co-op shooters either offer a loose selection of weapons and gadgets or four to five predefined classes with a few customization options.
However, since teams often consist of four players, selection is usually limited, and the same combinations come up over and over again. Extraction could remedy this by simply carrying over all Operators from Siege.
This would additionally open up new possibilities to complete missions or tackle challenges. A small bonus: certain combinations could be used for wild speedrun tactics, adding even more value to the game.
3. Non-Verbal Communication with Pings
A somewhat niche feature, but: Players who enjoy playing with others but cannot or do not want to use voice chat need to rely on alternatives. This is usually a text chat, which can be cumbersome in a heated situation.
Rainbow Six Siege already offers a system with context-based pings that allows players to depict situations on their HUD without exchanging a spoken word. Possible communications might include:
- Here is ammunition
- Here is a destructible wall
- The way is clear
- Parasite ahead – watch out!
- Objective spotted (whatever the objectives may be)
- Need assistance!
- Escape/retreat!
Co-op shooters are best played with good friends or a fixed team over voice, but not everyone has teammates at all times. For public matches with matchmaking – if it comes – a ping system would be a boon.
Is it worth taking a look at Extraction?
The information about the new co-op shooter is sparse, even though an early leak has already shown gameplay. So, not much can be definitively said about whether Extraction is worth it or for whom.
However, the basic principle should appeal to anyone who has enjoyed PayDay or Left4Blood and similar games. Even if you liked co-op action like Remnant: From the Ashes, Extraction should at least be worth a second look.
Since Extraction is also a spin-off of a PvE mode from Siege, definitely Siege players who enjoyed Outbreak or are generally into Rainbow Six should be interested. After all, Rainbow Six Siege is still counted among the best shooters ever, even though it has already reached Year 6.
You will definitely learn more at E3 – perhaps even everything I’m hoping for in the shooter will come true.
