Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction (originally called Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Quarantine) is an online multiplayer tactical shooter video game created by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is a version based on Rainbow Six Siege (2015) and is a cooperative multiplayer game where players work together to fight and defeat alien creatures called the Archæans. The game was released on January 20, 2022, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Google Stadia, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Critics gave the game mixed reviews.

Gameplay

Rainbow Six Extraction is a cooperative multiplayer game that allows up to three players to work together. In the game, players take on the role of operators who must enter an area infected by aliens and complete tasks, such as collecting samples, retrieving data from computers, and gathering intelligence. Each game session, called an "incursion," includes three connected sub-maps. In each sub-map, players are randomly assigned one of twelve objectives. The locations of objectives and the positions of enemies are created randomly each time. After completing an objective, players can choose to leave the area or move to the next sub-map. New areas may be harder than previous ones, but completing them gives more rewards. Leaving early keeps operators safe. If an operator is defeated by an enemy, they become inactive until rescued in a later mission. Operators who are seriously hurt in a mission remain hurt and heal slowly.

Operators from the game Rainbow Six Siege return in Extraction as part of the Rainbow Exogenous Analysis and Containment Team (REACT), which is formed to stop the alien threat. Before each mission, players select one of 18 operators. Each operator has unique weapons and tools. For example, Pulse uses a heartbeat sensor to detect enemies through walls, and Alibi uses a hologram to distract enemies. Choosing the right team is important because each session requires three different characters. Players can use recon drones to explore, reinforce doors and windows to block entrances, and shoot through walls. Working together and communicating clearly is needed to succeed. A ping system helps players show others where enemies and supplies are located.

The aliens in the game are called "Archæans." In addition to regular enemies, there are special types, such as spikers that shoot sharp objects and rooters that slow players down. Areas are covered with a substance called "sprawl," which is like hardened lime. Players move slowly on sprawl, but enemies become stronger there. Sprawl can be removed by shooting it. Unlike most cooperative games, Extraction has a slower pace. Players' health does not heal automatically, and supplies like health items, weapons, and ammo are limited. Players are encouraged to stay hidden. If a player makes too much noise and is spotted, enemies will scream and attract more foes.

Development

Rainbow Six Extraction was created by Ubisoft Montreal as a new version of Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, which was released in 2015. According to Jason Schreier, the game began as a project called Pioneer, which was first mentioned in Watch Dogs 2 (2016). Pioneer was originally planned as a science fiction exploration game, but in 2019, it was changed to use the game engine AnvilNext 2.0 from Rainbow Six Siege. The game is based on a limited-time mode from Siege called Outbreak in 2018, where players fight alien enemies in New Mexico. Ubisoft stated that Extraction is an official part of the series, as it was designed for players who prefer single-player experiences over competitive multiplayer. By including characters from Siege, the team hoped to attract players who enjoy Siege and help new players try the game.

One of the early challenges during development was combining elements of a horde mode shooter with Rainbow Six. Unlike most games that focus on using weapons to defeat enemies, Extraction emphasizes completing objectives and surviving alien encounters. The team believed that SWAT team characters should avoid fighting large groups of enemies directly and instead use surprise attacks. Players might lose teammates temporarily, as this feature was intended to create tension and make players decide whether to continue exploring dangerous areas.

The game was first announced at E3 2019 as Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Quarantine and was planned for release in 2020 on PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. In October 2019, the release was delayed to 2020-2021 to give the team more time to develop the game. It was delayed again to 2021-2022 due to challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, Ubisoft changed the name from Quarantine to Parasite, an internal code name, and later to Extraction in June 2021. The game was delayed once more to January 2022. A technical test invitation was sent to selected players on November 2, 2021, and the test took place from November 5 to 7. The game was released on January 20, 2022, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and Series S, with cross-platform play supported. Ubisoft lowered the game's price and offered free co-op passes. On January 5, 2022, Ubisoft announced that Extraction would be available on day one for Xbox Game Pass users on Console, Cloud, and PC.

According to an official Ubisoft Support employee, development on the game has been stopped indefinitely since around the fourth quarter of 2022.

Reception

Rainbow Six Extraction received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to Metacritic. The game had three million players within its first week of release.

The Washington Post praised the game's extraction mechanic, noting that it "adds drama and, at times, humor." It described situations where one player rescues a teammate as "nail-biter spectacles." PC Gamer appreciated the characters' vulnerability, stating that "this fragility creates tension as players move deeper into enemy territory." However, it criticized the higher difficulty levels as unbalanced. IGN noted the game's repetitive modes but liked its visual design. GameSpot praised the shooting mechanics, the tactical depth from interconnected areas, and the progression system, but criticized the weak story, uneven operators, and specific studies. Push Square called some art design "spectacular" and praised the health system, stealth, and setting. However, it pointed out weak AI, enemy design, level progression, story, and lack of engaging gameplay.

Many critics said the game lacked innovation. PCGamesN stated that the game misused mechanics and operators from Siege, writing that "they’ve been mixed in a way that fails to add flavor." It compared Extraction to Siege's limited-time mode, Outbreak. GamesRadar+ liked the alien races, multiplayer, and improvements on Siege's ideas but criticized the game for being repetitive and lacking identity. Game Informer praised the weapon handling, enemy variety, and polish but called the game "incredibly safe" and "less gripping than its predecessor." EGM said Siege's mechanics worked well for cooperative play but called the game "more boring than it has any right to be…more of an obligation than an escape."