From Mario to machine guns: how Ubisoft Paris made Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Tactics
The studio is swapping the Mushroom Kingdom’s vivid palette for the blood-soaked grit of military action series Where do you go after Mario? It’s a question the team at Ubisoft Paris found itself pondering three years ago after wrapping up work on the charming turn-based tactics adventure, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, sequel to its unexpected crossover hit, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle. By melding a rather…
Key points
- Ubisoft Paris moved from Mario + Rabbids to Rainbow Six Tactics, a turn-based tactical spin-off of Rainbow Six Siege.
- Creative director Elie Benhamou said Rainbow Six's emphasis on preparation and consequences suits a tactics game.
- The game features 15 unique operators and commander Paul 'Big Boy' Bishop from Rainbow Six Vegas.
Ubisoft Paris has followed its Mario + Rabbids games with Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Tactics, a turn-based tactical spin-off from Rainbow Six Siege. The studio began considering the project three years ago after finishing Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, the sequel to Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle.
The new game replaces the Mushroom Kingdom's bright style with the military grit of the Rainbow Six series. A demo shown to press began with a night-time operation in Nigeria, where four operators used drones and explosives before breaching a guarded warehouse.
Why the studio made the switch
Level designer director Julien Vial said working on the Mario franchise was a privilege and something he remains proud of. He recalled seeing the first prototype and being impressed by its possibilities.
Creative director Elie Benhamou, a veteran of the Ghost Recon series, said Rainbow Six stands out as a smart shooter where preparation matters more than brutality. He said every decision has strong consequences, which he called the exact recipe for a tactics game.
What makes Rainbow Six unique is that it’s a smart shooter
— Elie Benhamou
Gameplay and story details
In the demo, smoke grenades blinded enemies while sniper fire and a tight pincer formation defeated remaining hostiles. The mission ended with Rainbow Unit extracting a hostage by racing to a speedboat, and players could arrest combatants to earn intelligence points for better gear.
Benhamou said the game should respect players' intelligence and allow failure and experimentation. He said freedom is key and that 15 unique operators mean the same problem can be solved in many ways.
Narrative director Barnabé Anglade said the story bridges Rainbow Six Siege and classic Rainbow. Players control commander Paul 'Big Boy' Bishop from Rainbow Six Vegas as he tries to re-establish Team Rainbow.
