Everything we know about Rainbow Six Y5S2: Operation Steel Wave

Rainbow Six: Siege Year 5 Season 2 is almost here. There’s been a fair share of leaks about Operation Steel Wave, and we’ve got everything you need to know, from the operators coming out, to the House rework, and the release date.

Operation Void Edge kicked Year 5 of Rainbow Six off with a bang. Oryx and Iana have been a hit with players, and the new Oregon rework has made one of Siege’s fan-favorite maps just that bit better.

However, there’s still plenty to look forward to in 2020. Y5S2 is just around the corner. Operation Steel Wave is set for sometime in the coming weeks, and we’ve got everything you need to know.

Operation Steel Wave operators

Operation Steel Wave will be the last season of Rainbow Six where players will get access to two new operators. In future seasons, only one operator will be released at a time, as the developers shift focus to other quality of life upgrades.

The defender will be a South African three-armor one-speed op called Philisiwe. Her gadget, Smart Wire, will act like Barbed Wire, with a few twists. It’ll slow enemies down significantly, deal damage over time, be immune to melee attacks, and mark gadgets.

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Philisiwe will have access to the T-5 SMG with an ACOG, the ITA12L shotgun, and the RG-15 pistol.

Odin is the rumored name of the attacker. Hailing from Norway, the two-armor two-speed operator will be able to deploy a “Spider” drone.

The drone will be able to climb up walls and across ceilings, as well as dig holes through soft walls. It can also fire health charges to help patch allies up and push on.

He will have access to the C7E and AK-12 rifles, as well as the SDP 9mm and PMM sidearms. However, both these operator leaks need to be taken with a grain of salt, as nothing has been confirmed by Ubisoft yet.

House map rework

The House rework was initially revealed at the Six Invitational as part of Siege’s Year 5 content roadmap. However, as Y5S2 nears, more information has come to light about the map’s rework.

The first and second floors are getting a few extensions. The balconies by the front door have been removed, instead being placed by garage and on the back end of the house. Given some of the complaints about the map has been about its size, Ubisoft has looked to remedy that.

“We’re just making it a little bit bigger,” said developer Roy Del Valle at the Six Invitational. “We’re adding an extra set of stairs ⁠— we’re very excited about it.”

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After its rework, it’s likely House will be added back into the ranked map pool. It’s been relegated to casual games for quite some time, but with its much-needed adjustments, it might become a viable map in all scenarios.

Stolen Goods Arcade playlist

Arcade playlists are coming with every season of Rainbow Six starting in Year 5. Operation Void Edge brought a bit of Goldeneye 64 to Siege with Golden Gun, but the direction is shifting quite drastically for Operation Steel Wave.

The Stolen Goods Arcade playlist is on its way for Season 2, and it’s a soft breachers dream. Set on the old Hereford Base, all floors and walls are completely destructible. Attackers must complete a series of objectives, including locking down vaults and saving a hostage.

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Buck, Sledge, Ash, Zofia, and more will be able to knock the house down, with the chance of opening up some long sight lines. How long the playlist will run for remains unknown, nor when it’ll finally make its entrance to Siege.

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Operation Steel Wave release date

Year 5 Season 2 was expected to be revealed at the Season 11 Pro League finals for Rainbow Six on May 17. However, since the cancellation of the event, dates for the next season are up in the air.

After Operation Steel Wave is revealed, players won’t be able to get their hands on the content instantly. It’ll first be added to the TTS for three weeks or so before being pushed to live. Year 5 Season Pass holders will then have the chance to play the new operators a week before anyone else.

Players should expect the Year 5 Season 2 content for Rainbow Six in late-May or early-June, but it could be delayed, or even brought forward.