At the E3 2021, developer Ubisoft showcased first gameplay and further details as well as the official trailer for the new co-op shooter Rainbow Six: Extraction. The developers reveal a bit more about how Extraction will exactly work and how the mechanics will function.
This is what the trailer reveals: The trailer shows the story of the new shooter. A parasite has broken out and has apparently infected a city or area, and Hibana is caught there by the parasite. Hibana is one of the attackers and playable characters in Rainbow Six Siege.
A cut follows to a later time, where other members of Rainbow try to rescue Hibana. They face numerous enemies that appear to be infected and transformed humans by the parasite – called Archæan.
Hibana is freed and the team can escape, but in the credits it says that they are “not done yet.” Apparently, there will be more missions.
Rainbow Six: Extraction will feature cross-play for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The release is scheduled for September 16, 2021. You can pre-order the game on Ubisoft’s official website (via ubisoft.com).
What does this mean for the game? You can play various operators and if one of them “gets lost” in battle, you have to rescue them before you can play as them, as the developers state afterward. Each operator comes with their own abilities.
You can play the co-op shooter alone or in teams of three, with each controlling a different operator. You pursue objectives while trying not to be detected by the parasite.
Gameplay and features of Extraction
This is what the gameplay looks like: In another trailer, the developers showed a walkthrough through one of the levels. It shows operators Ela, Sledge, and Alibi completing a mission together. Their abilities as well as the familiar weapons from Rainbow Six Siege are utilized.
The Archæan are introduced as enemies with different levels, which usually pose no great threat alone, but can become deadly in groups. By using drones, you can scout and thus better decide how to proceed or plan fights.
Extraction places a strong emphasis on stealth tactics, meaning cautious approaches. You can ambush enemies and coordinate to take out multiple foes simultaneously with suppressed weapons without alerting others. The complete video has been embedded here for you:
Cooperative and cautious approaches are the key gameplay elements in Extraction. Several scenes show how two operators cover a door while the third approaches the next room from the front. They pursue objectives, such as marking “nests” of the parasite in the shown gameplay. If an Archæan notices you, it can alert a nearby nest, apparently triggering a horde.
What features does Extraction have? One of the core features of the game is the so-called “Sprawl” – a substance produced by the parasite that spreads across the map. Archæan move faster on the Sprawl while players move slower, but can destroy it by shooting at it. Additionally, Extraction offers:
- “React Light”, a special flashlight that highlights enemies and weak points
- 18 different operators with unique abilities (according to an early snippet from the selection)
- different enemy types with various abilities – such as enemies that can hold you
- reinforcements for walls to block paths and force enemies through tight openings
- increasing levels (“Sub Zones”) within a level that become progressively harder and are separated by airlocks
- if an operator is heavily injured in battle, they will enter “Stasis” with special foam and need to be rescued
There will also be destructible walls through which certain operators can create alternative paths with their abilities. This is one of the things that MeinMMO author Benedict Grothaus has labeled as essential for Extraction: I say: The new Rainbow Six: Extraction needs 3 things from Siege to become really good
After the second stage of a level, you can decide whether to exit the mission or continue at stage 3. There, your skills will be put to the test. You must take down several strong Archæan to lure an elite enemy out of hiding and then defeat them.
What do you think of the first look at Extraction? Leave us a comment.
