As Rainbow Six Siege approaches the fourth season of Year 5, Ubisoft has announced a map rework and operator tweaks for the upcoming season Operation Neon Dawn, as well as a new character: Aruni.
This new Defender can deploy a laser grid to intimidate Attackers and protect the objective. The gadget's defensive nature is sure to spice up gameplay as players learn to contend with the new threat. Let's breakdown everything we know about Operation Neon Dawn and its launch operator that expands on the Tom Clancy universe.
New Operator: Aruni
Apha Tawanroong, aka Aruni, is a Defender operator hailing from Thailand. As a detective for the Royal Thai Police, she lost her left arm and leg in a horrible accident, but thanks to cutting-edge prosthetics, Aruni returned to work and was picked up as a Rainbow operative.
In-game, Aruni is a medium-speed, medium-armor Defender, equipped with the Surya Gate gadget. The Surya Gate deploys a glowing laser grid over reinforced walls, windows, hatches or doors. Not only does it damage any Attacker that touches it, but the grid destroys drones and utility projectiles. As a counter, when placed on doors, the laser grid leaves a small gap that allows drones or a strategically aimed grenade to slip underneath.
The Surya Gate is temporarily deactivated after an Attacker crosses it. Therefore, Aruni or her defending teammates will need to keep an eye on gridded doorways. Suppose a grenade or Attacker deactivates an armed doorway. In that case, the entry is unguarded, allowing enemies to storm the room without taking damage.
As for weapons, Aruni can be equipped with the speedy P10 RONI submachine gun or MK 14 EBR marksman rifle, which is the first DMR to be wielded by a Defender. Her PRB92 sidearm is her secondary weapon best reserved for close encounters. Overall, Aruni's gadget acts as a valuable form of defense, forcing enemies to rethink and reevaluate their attack plan in the strategy-based first-person shooter.
Map Rework and Gameplay Changes
Operation Neon Dawn introduces a much-needed map rework for Skyscraper. Several exterior balconies have been removed to reduce spawn peaking opportunities. There is also a new roof traversal and second-floor connector providing ample rotation and movement routes. Lastly, bomb sites have been tweaked to make them more competitive.
Gameplay updates primarily focus on operator gadgets. Hibana's X-Kairos launcher can be toggled to shoot two, four, or six explosive pellets to ensure flexibility. Echo's Yokai drones are now always visible, which limits frustration while searching for them. Jager's ADS also received changes. It can now only catch one projectile before needing to recharge. The runout timer for Defenders has been shortened. This long-awaited update allows players to detect Attackers that venture outside sooner.
Accessibility Features
Ubisoft also announced accessibility improvements for players with sensory impairments. Operation Neon Dawn will feature new Voice to Text and Text to Voice options for the in-game chat along with chat assistance like Narration and Hints, which can be accessed via the Options menu. For further customization, players can adjust the audio/visual cues for the chat and change font scaling.
The Sixth Guardian Program will also be coming to Operation Neon Dawn, spotlighting the operator Doc. As with previous seasons, players will have the opportunity to purchase a limited-time bundle, and the profits will be donated to charity. Further details on this bundle have yet to be announced.
Developed by Ubisoft, Rainbow Six Siege is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. The Operation Zero Dawn Test Server dropped on November 9.