Rainbow Six Siege Update Y9S4.2: Designer’s Notes Address Key Bugs and Glitches

Rainbow Six Siege, the critically acclaimed online tactical shooter developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft, continues to evolve with the release of the Y9S4.2 update. Renowned for its emphasis on strategic environmental destruction and intense player cooperation, the game consistently receives updates designed to refine gameplay, address existing issues, and enhance the overall player experience. The Y9S4.2 update, outlined in the Designer’s Notes, focuses primarily on bug fixes and resolving inconsistencies that have surfaced within the game.

This update addresses a comprehensive range of issues, spanning from core gameplay mechanics to operator-specific bugs and even cosmetic glitches. These fixes demonstrate Ubisoft’s commitment to maintaining the integrity and competitive balance of Rainbow Six Siege. Let’s delve into the specific changes introduced in this patch.

Gameplay Fixes

Several core gameplay mechanics were addressed in this update, ensuring smoother and more consistent matches for all players. One particularly frustrating bug involved matches failing to end even when a majority of players voted to cancel a round. This issue has now been rectified, preventing situations where teams were forced to continue playing in undesirable circumstances.

Another critical fix pertains to Observation Tools, which are vital for gathering intelligence and strategizing effectively. Players reported instances where Observation Tools would lose signal when deployed on the edge of a surface while moving sideways. This bug hindered players’ ability to scout ahead and provide crucial information to their teammates. The update now ensures that Observation Tools maintain a stable signal, regardless of the player’s movement or placement on the edge of surfaces.

The notorious issue of red walls denoting restricted defender areas has also been resolved. Previously, players were able to vault through these walls during the end of the Preparation Phase. This exploit allowed attackers to gain an unintended advantage by breaching the defenders’ established perimeter prematurely. The fix now ensures that red walls maintain their intended function, preventing unauthorized access and maintaining the integrity of the Preparation Phase.

Map-Specific Fixes

The Y9S4.2 update includes several map-specific fixes designed to address inconsistencies and exploits within various environments. On the House map, players discovered a method to reach an unintended vantage point on top of a shed in the EXT APC Area. By manipulating the game’s collision detection with a garden gnome and a nearby bench, players could access this elevated position. This exploit provided an unfair advantage by allowing players to overlook and engage opponents from an unexpected angle. The update eliminates this exploit by resolving the collision issue and preventing players from reaching the top of the shed.

Another map-specific fix addresses an issue on the Kanal map, where hatches in the 1F Lounge were not being completely destroyed by explosions. This inconsistency hampered attackers’ ability to breach the floor effectively and create new lines of sight. The update now ensures that explosions fully destroy the hatches in the 1F Lounge, allowing for consistent and predictable environmental destruction.

On the Border map, players discovered a method to access the top of a vending machine in the 2F Break Room by utilizing Azami’s Kiba Barrier. This allowed players to gain an elevated position and potentially ambush unsuspecting opponents. This unintended use of the Kiba Barrier has been resolved in the update, preventing players from climbing on top of the vending machine.

Operator-Specific Fixes

Several operator-specific bugs have been addressed in the Y9S4.2 update, ensuring that each operator functions as intended and that their unique abilities are consistent and reliable.

Blackbeard, an operator known for his H.U.L.L. Deployable Shield, received a significant amount of attention in this update. One bug allowed Blackbeard to use his Breach ability while in guard break under specific timings, this inconsistency could lead to unintended tactical advantages. The update now prevents Blackbeard from using his Breach ability while in guard break. Further issues with Blackbeard include the rappel hook remaining in his hand after using Ash’s Breaching Round whilst rappelling.

Further Blackbeard specific fixes include inconsistencies with weapon statistics. Blackbeard’s primary weapon statistics were incorrectly compared to the H.U.L.L. Deployable Shield instead of each other. This issue has been resolved, ensuring that weapon comparisons are accurate and reflect the true performance of each weapon. Moreover, the iron sight on Blackbeard’s MK17 CQB was clipping through the player camera while aiming down sights. This visual glitch has been corrected, providing a cleaner and more immersive aiming experience. The "Additional Magazines" and "Magazine Size" were also listed as "0" in Blackbeard’s Loadout menu, displaying incorrect information. This issue has been fixed to reflect the correct ammunition counts. Bullet damage also disappeared from Blackbeard’s H.U.L.L Deployable Shield when Blackbeard aimed down sights, preventing the player from accurately assessing damage inflicted on the shield. The update now ensures that bullet damage is consistently displayed. The H.U.L.L Deployable shield would also break guard when Blackbeard dashed and was hit with a melee attack at the same time, resulting in an unfair disadvantage. Additionally, the shield and equipped weapon wasn’t being highlighted when Blackbeard spawned in caster mode, limiting viewer information.

Osa was affected by a bug where the "Enter" prompt would allow her to breach undamaged barricades while rappelling with the Talon-8 Clear Shield equipped. This unintended interaction has been corrected, preventing Osa from breaching barricades prematurely.

Tachanka’s Elite Slava Korolyu skin was missing from the Weapon Skins menu for the Bearing 9 Machine Pistol. This cosmetic oversight has been resolved, ensuring that players can properly customize Tachanka’s loadout.

Miscellaneous Fixes

In addition to the specific fixes mentioned above, the Y9S4.2 update includes several miscellaneous fixes that improve the overall user experience. Information on the Breach Charge was not up to date with the current season changes in the Battle Pass menu, causing confusion for players. This information has been updated to reflect the accurate changes. Lastly, Blackbeard’s sprint SFX was out of sync with the animation.

Conclusion

The Y9S4.2 update for Rainbow Six Siege demonstrates Ubisoft’s ongoing commitment to refining the game and addressing issues that affect the player experience. By resolving bugs and inconsistencies across various gameplay mechanics, maps, and operators, this update contributes to a more balanced, competitive, and enjoyable game for the entire community. Players can look forward to a smoother and more polished experience as they continue to engage with the tactical challenges of Rainbow Six Siege.