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Ubisoft has partnered with BLAST to form a multi-year deal that will see the tournament organizer host every single Rainbow Six esports event. The deal will go into effect in March 2023 and the new format will split up the competitive scene into nine regions. While Rainbow Six esports might not be as popular as other shooters like CS:GO, Valorant, and Apex Legends, it continues to deliver a fleshed-out esports circuit to anyone who wants to compete in the game. The goal of the new circuit is to showcase more high-profile games while also developing a better open competition format for new teams.
The Rainbow Six Major format is being overhauled
With the number of regions going up to nine, the Rainbow Six Majors will have a brand-new format. There is a new phase that will take place before the groups and playoffs stages and we will get a better idea of what to expect at the upcoming Six Invitational event in February 2023.
After the Majors in the new format, there will be a three-month off-season break where teams can rest or make changes to their rosters. This applies to both Stage One and Stage Two, and the format is doing away with a Last Chance Qualifier event.
Teams will have to pull off consistent performances throughout the year as points accumulated in each competitive year are what will determine entry into future Six Invitational events. The top 20 teams in the Global Standings will be eligible to compete in the world championships.
BLAST has experience in hosting some of the biggest events in the world, and the partnership between the tournament organizer and Ubisoft could lead to better events. While the Rainbow Six esports scene has a loyal audience it does not have the same level of exposure as other games in the FPS genre.
Earlier this year, there was controversy surrounding the Six Siege Major which was first announced to take place in the United Arab Emirates. It led to fans and staff wanting to boycott the event. The event was eventually canceled and relocated. Fans are hoping that BLAST does a better job at handling the esports scene moving forward.
