Ubisoft reportedly developing Rainbow Six: Vegas 3, returning to the tactical shooter series
Ubisoft is reportedly bringing back one of its most beloved tactical shooter series after a hiatus spanning nearly two decades. The publisher has allegedly greenlit the development of Rainbow Six: Vegas 3, marking a significant shift in direction for a franchise that has spent the last eleven years dominated by the live-service model of Rainbow Six Siege.
According to reports from Insider Gaming, the project is currently in the early stages of production at Ubisoft Montreal, which is now part of Vantage Studios. Codenamed "Spades," the title is one of three new projects recently spun off at the studio, two of which are reportedly set within the Rainbow Six universe. While the project is still in its infancy, sources suggest that this is a full third entry in the Vegas sub-series rather than a remake of the earlier titles.
The Return of a Tactical Classic
The return to the Vegas formula represents a departure from the purely competitive nature of Siege. The original Rainbow Six: Vegas, released in 2006 for PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3, and its 2008 sequel were known for blending story-driven single-player campaigns with multiplayer modes that combined first- and third-person perspectives. A defining feature of that era was a seamless cover system that allowed players to transition to an over-the-shoulder view to survey rooms and blind-fire, effectively bridging the gap between a rigid tactical simulator and a cinematic shooter.
This cinematic approach was further emphasized by the series' use of verticality. Players and AI squadmates could rappel down casino facades, elevator shafts, and glass skylights, or even utilize inverted rappelling to breach upper-story windows and clear rooms from unexpected angles. To support this more dynamic pace, the original games introduced regenerating health and unlimited squad revives, features that redefined the Rainbow Six experience for a broader audience at the time.
This reported revival comes as Ubisoft begins to branch out with the Rainbow Six IP beyond the success of Siege. The company has already debuted Rainbow Six Tactics, a single-player turn-based spin-off. There is some discrepancy regarding the timeline for this title, with some reports placing its release in 2027 while others suggest it will arrive as early as next year on PC and current-generation consoles.
The decision to return to the Vegas lineage suggests a desire to recapture the balance of tactical depth and narrative-driven action that defined the mid-2000s. Because the project is in such early development, a public reveal may be several years away. However, the move indicates that Ubisoft may be looking to diversify the Rainbow Six brand, potentially returning to the co-op and campaign-driven roots that first made the Vegas entries a success.
