Ubisoft Montreal is reportedly working on a new Rainbow Six: Vegas, nearly two decades after the last installment. The project, known internally as “Spades,” is said to be in an early stage and could be an unannounced sequel, not a remake, according to reports attributed to sources at Insider Gaming.
A return that has yet to be announced
Insider Gaming reported on November 13 that Ubisoft had greenlit a new title in the Vegas series and that development was at an early stage. Eurogamer and Multiplayer.it picked up the news the following day. Ubisoft has not announced the game, and Eurogamer said it had been unable to independently verify the information.
The identification of “Spades” as a codename appears in reports from Insider Gaming and in publications citing them. For now, the plot, gameplay mechanics, planned platforms, and production schedule are unknown. It has also not been confirmed that the title will be called Rainbow Six: Vegas 3: Insider Gaming says its sources believe it will probably be a third installment rather than a new version of a previous game.
The project would be one of three new productions that Ubisoft Montreal has reportedly launched. Insider Gaming says its sources identify another of these projects as a game in the Rainbow Six universe, although it provides no details about its format or content. The identity of the third project has also not been revealed.
Eighteen years since Vegas 2
The last installment in this branch was Rainbow Six: Vegas 2, released in 2008. The first Rainbow Six: Vegas arrived in 2006; Ubisoft has continued working with the franchise since then, but has not released another installment in the series set in Las Vegas. The gap between the two games explains why reports describe the possible return as a comeback after nearly two decades.
The first Vegas was a first-person tactical shooter focused on firefights and teamwork, according to Multiplayer.it. The outlet recalls that both installments were praised for their gameplay and tactical mechanics, while also pointing to some limitations: the story was not particularly memorable, and the sequel introduced few new features compared with the original.
Wccftech highlights some of the first game’s features: a cover system that shifted from a first-person view to an over-the-shoulder third-person perspective, vertical combat spaces, and the ability for the team to rappel down casino facades or elevator shafts. It also mentions persistent progression that unified unlocks across modes. These are features of the previous games, not confirmed features of Spades.
Ubisoft continued with Rainbow Six in other directions
After Vegas 2, the franchise focused on Rainbow Six Siege, released in 2015, a different direction from the Las Vegas games, according to Eurogamer and Wccftech. Ubisoft also announced Rainbow Six Tactics, a turn-based single-player spin-off that, according to Eurogamer, is scheduled for 2027 and is being developed by Ubisoft Paris.
That announcement provides context for the possible third Rainbow Six project at Montreal, but does not identify it: sources only say that another of the studio’s new productions would also belong to the franchise’s universe. It has not been indicated whether it would be related to Siege, Tactics, or Vegas.
Rainbow Six is under Vantage Studios, Ubisoft’s subsidiary that also oversees Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, according to Eurogamer and Insider Gaming. Tencent owns a 26.32% stake in Vantage Studios, according to both outlets. However, reports about Spades attribute development to Ubisoft Montreal and do not detail what role the subsidiary would have in the project.
A lengthy development with many unknowns
The most specific timeline estimate comes from Insider Gaming: it could be several years before Ubisoft officially announces a new Vegas. Eurogamer also reports that the reveal may be several years away. With the project still in an early stage and no announcement from the company, there is no public date for learning more about it.
The possibility that it will be Vegas 3 rather than a remake remains an estimate attributed to sources, not a confirmed description. It has also not been explained whether the game would bring back the tactical approach of the two originals, their cover systems, or teamwork between squadmates. For now, “Spades” is the only specific name associated with the project; Ubisoft has revealed no further details.
The news comes as reports about other Ubisoft projects are also circulating. Eurogamer mentions rumors of two new Assassin’s Creed games, one set in ancient Rome and another for mobile devices in Jerusalem, but these are separate productions and provide no information about the content of Vegas. The next relevant confirmation for this story would need to clarify what form the game will take and when Ubisoft decides to present it.
Sources: Multiplayer.it, Eurogamer.net, Wccftech, Insider Gaming, Wccftech, ComicBook.com
