Solid Snake Joins Rainbow Six Siege in Operation Silent Hunt

Ubisoft is gearing up to launch the next season of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, titled Operation Silent Hunt, and after weeks of teasing the community, the publisher has officially confirmed that the legendary Solid Snake is joining the game.

Earlier in 2025, Rainbow Six Siege entered a new era with the release of Siege X, the most ambitious update in the game’s history. The overhaul revitalized the 10-year-old shooter, significantly boosting player engagement and breathing fresh life into the title.

However, the end of 2025 and the early months of 2026 proved turbulent. Just before the new year, the game was hit by a massive hacking incident that forced Ubisoft to temporarily shut down servers. Hackers flooded the in-game messaging system, distributed billions of R6 Credits, unlocked developer-exclusive skins, and triggered various unusual behaviors. A second attack followed only a week later, with some players even receiving bans as a result. Fortunately, Ubisoft managed to resolve the issues and stabilize the game, shifting focus toward upcoming content.

Rainbow Six Siege x Metal Gear Solid

In late January, Ubisoft teased Solid Snake’s arrival but offered few details at the time, promising a full reveal on February 15. As announced, Operation Silent Hunt launches on March 3, bringing a wide range of Metal Gear Solid content to the game.

Solid Snake joins Siege as an attacking Operator, once again voiced by original actor David Hayter. He comes equipped with the Soliton Radar MKIII and a unique ability called On-Site Procurement.

Soliton Radar MKIII

Snake’s primary gadget is a handheld radar device that displays the floor plan of his immediate surroundings and reveals enemies located on the same floor. The radar features a three-light threat indicator system:

• Green – Area clear
• Yellow – Default cameras are being accessed by enemies
• Red – One or more enemies detected nearby

When activated in precision mode, the radar highlights detected enemies with position icons and vision cones. However, the device has limited charges and a cooldown timer, requiring strategic use.

On-Site Procurement

Snake’s unique ability allows him to collect utility pouches from fallen enemies, replenishing his secondary gadget supply mid-match. What makes him especially versatile is that he can carry up to five secondary gadgets at once, unlike other Operators. By scavenging effectively, Snake can adapt to various tactical scenarios, stockpiling different tools depending on the situation.

Weapons and Equipment

Snake brings a new secondary weapon, the Tacit.45 pistol. For primary weapons, players can choose between:

• PMR90A2 designated marksman rifle
• F2 assault rifle, which now supports grip attachments

Special Metal Gear Event

Ubisoft is also teasing a limited-time Metal Gear-themed mode currently referred to as the event. The mode pairs Solid Snake with Ubisoft’s own stealth icon, Sam Fisher (known in Siege as Zero).

The event takes place on a modified version of the Nighthaven Labs map, filled with Metal Gear references. A dedicated Collection will accompany the event, featuring Operator skins inspired by iconic characters such as Gray Fox and Meryl.

Silent Hunt Roadmap and Gameplay Changes

Operation Silent Hunt will also introduce:

• New Black Ice weapon skins
• A 1v1 Arcade mode
• Modernized versions of classic maps including Coastline, Oregon, and Villa

Additionally, the 6v6 Dual Front mode will be retired at the end of the season.

A major Operator balancing update is also on the way, featuring changes such as:

• Skopos becoming a 3-speed Operator
• Ela’s Grzmot Mines causing a longer concussion effect
• Amaru’s Garra Hook receiving one additional charge
• Shield Operators losing the ability to break full-health barricades

…and several other adjustments aimed at refining competitive balance.