Year 4 of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege wraps up this weekend as the Six Invitational 2020 takes place in Montreal, Quebec. It’s here at the championships Ubisoft hosted a panel for Operation Void Edge, the first season of year 5 (“Y5S1”).

We’ve already played it though while visiting Ubisoft Montreal last week to learn all about the next season (and beyond but stay tuned for that…) and to get hands-on time with the new map and operators. We’ve got all the details on Rainbow Six Siege Year 5 Season 1 that you can’t find elsewhere!

Operation Void Edge introduces a reworked Oregon map, and with it, a new attacker and defender in Iana (Netherlands) and Oryx (Jordan), respectively. The operators do not add any new primary or secondary guns to Rainbow Six Siege but bring with them abilities that change the meta with entirely new gameplay mechanics.

Operation Void Edge’s New Attacker: Iana

Iana’s Weapons & Gear

  • Primary: ARX 200 Assault Rifle (same as Nomad with an added vertical grip) or G36-C Assault Rifle (same as Ash) Secondary: MK1 9mm Handgun (same as Buck/Frost) Gadget: Smoke Grenade or Frag Grenade

While studying for her systems engineering doctorate, Iana pioneered topographical mapping software that allowed her to generate a holographic representation of herself that she can command with her Gemini Replicator. Once she activates her hologram, she directly goes inside and can control it. It can move and produces sound like she would, but it obviously cannot shoot, melee or use secondary gadgets.

  • Dutch. Two armor, two speed. Intel & Counter Intel. “Plays very well in combination with an entry fragger. Her hologram can be used as a decoy to trick opponents. Built for intel gathering but has quite a playmaking potential.” Always wanted to be a pilot but a side effect of albinism prevented her. Joined the European Space Agency instead to develop tech to go to the stars. Gemini Replicator Gadget is a hologram created from drones launched from Iana’s backpack. The holograms include Iana’s weapon skins and attachments (unlike Alibi’s stationary Prisma holograms) and sounds like her. The holograms cannot go up ladders or barricades but can vault over objects and Deployable Shields. The holograms can’t deal damage nor can it set off traps but is perfect for scouting them. The hologram is great for baiting defenders for C4 throws/Goyo shields/Smoke attacks. The hologram can be eliminated by one bullet, a mute jammer, or electricity. Maestro’s Evil Eye camera turrets can tell the hologram is not real due to a lack of thermal signature. While playing as the hologram you cannot scan, ping, or see Vigil cloaked. Iana does not move when using  the hologram ability and if it’s destroyed there’s no location ping. The Hologram always recharges (but takes longer if destroyed). Feels like a character from the future, and continues Ubisoft’s seeming push towards more futuristic tech and unique character lore/designs (see: Wamai from last season).

Iana’s Bio

“All systems are complementary, if you know how to connect them.”

Meijer’s mother was lead engineer on the Huygens Atmospheric Structure Instrument that landed on Titan. Encouraged to reach for the stars from an early age, she studied Aerospace Engineering with a view toward becoming a fighter pilot. Unfortunately, her albinism meant she had compromised retina and her application was refused. She changed her focus to systems engineering, developing contact lenses that overcorrected her genetic deficit while integrating a state-of-the-art AR overlay.

It was a collaboration during her doctorate that gave Meijer the first taste of where she longed to be. Returning from the International Space Station only fuelled her desire to explore the farthest reaches of the cosmos, no matter the cost. She pioneered topographical mapping software that allows her to project a real-time, virtual copy of herself to anywhere visible by satellite or drone. It was this technology which caught the eye of Elena “Mira” Álvarez, and subsequently Six.

Operation Void Edge’s New Defender: Oryx

Oryx’s Weapons & Gear

  • Primary: SPAS-12 Shotgun (same as Valkyrie) or MP5 Assault Rifle (same as Doc and Rook but no ACOG) Secondary: BAILFF 410 Handgun (same as Alibi/Maestro) or UPS40 Handgun (same as Jackal and Mira) Gadget: Barbed Wire or Bulletproof Camera

Oryx is the unofficial second-in-command at Kaid’s Fortress, maintaining it during his absences, as well as acting as his trusted advisor. Oryx is a heavily trained Operator that does not use a gadget: his Remah Dash has more than one application. Its speed allows him to roam efficiently and cover short distances with unprecedented swiftness. It can also be used to knock down opponents or dash through breakable walls but Oryx will lose health. Finally, Oryx is also able to climb up hatches, giving him a significant tactical advantage over its opponents.

  • From Jordan. Two armor, two speed. Roamer and soft breacher. Offers a totally new way to roam and flank. Hard to catch with quick sprint and can waste a lot of attacker time. Unique way to counter Montagne (or any shield op) by knocking them down with Remah Dash. Can knock shields down, can smash barricades and walls (he takes damage doing this great to partner with Doc). The Remah Dash works on charges. Oryx comes with a few and they recharge over time. Nomad’s Airjabs and Gridlock’s Trax Stingers stop dash Oryx is loud when dashing. Busting through a soft wall drains all charges. When jumping up, Oryx can hang and look through the hatch before fully pulling himself up. When using the Remah Dash it takes time to pull up a weapon. Feels and looks like an Assassin’s Creed character.

Oryx’s Bio

“Sometimes, the only way out is through.”

Little is known about Al Hadid’s life. He grew up in a small town adjacent to an air force base, and by all accounts had a normal childhood up until he disappeared from international records for more than fifteen years. He eventually resurfaced in Jordan, but stayed only long enough to obtain a new passport. He learned wrestling in Istanbul, Muay Thai in Bangkok, tactical driving in Berlin, and precision marksmanship in Damascus, likely working for a paramilitary sponsor. Then he disappeared again.

He next showed up as a cadet at Jalal “Kaid” El Fassi’s Fortress. As the years passed, his role evolved, from recruit to steward to instructor. Now the unofficial second-in-command, Al Hadid maintains the Fortress during Kaid’s absences and acts as a trusted advisor whenever the two of them are together.

Rumors of Al Hadid’s ferocity abound, but remain uncorroborated by field reports and should be disregarded.

Oregon Map Rework Explained

  • Small office tower expanded on both levels. Basement is bigger too – dorm stairs expands down a level There’s a new set of stairs Attic connector has more options New hallway connects meeting to kitchen (to bypass meeting room) Small tower has a new hallway Large tower objective for bomb mode now is moved to meeting room and shared with kitchen.

Operation Void Edge Gameplay Tweaks

  • Debris replication tweak (broken debris that obscures view client side will vanish) and some will be left behind to note that there was a barricade that’s been destroyed. Changes to attackers’ drone spawn location - drones will spawn on side of your operator spawn Revamped player hub - User interface changes to make mode selection more clear. Caveira gets an Elite Set (called “Mata Leão”) on February 20, 2020.

Lesion Balance Changes

  • Can no longer see Gu mines if not in line of sight Can’t see Gu mines from far away Gu mines don’t do trigger damage anymore, just tick damage. Tick damage increased to 6 from 4.

Twitch Balance Changes

  • Shock drone starts with 3 shots instead of 5. Shock drone now recharges shots (unlimited total) Shock drone dart damage reduced to 1 from 10

When Does Void Edge Release?

The Test Server for Operation Void Edge goes live February 17, 2020, available only to PC players, Expect full release two weeks following.

In addition to these two new Operators, players will be able to explore a reimagined Oregon map, which has been newly reworked. Notable changes include expansions to the basement area, attic, and office tower. Additional changes can be experienced throughout the map, all with the intent of evolving the gameplay meta.

Next: Rainbow Six Siege Only Getting 6 Operators In Year 5

Rainbow Six Siege is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.