The iconic stealth infiltrator Solid Snake is officially entering Rainbow Six Siege as a permanent, playable operator with the launch of Operation Silent Hunt on March 3, 2026.
Straight from the Metal Gear series, Solid Snake is a high-skill intel and adaptability specialist. He brings entirely new mechanics in Rainbow Six Siege that change how attackers gather information and manage utility during a round.
At the heart of Snake’s kit is the Soliton Radar MKIII, a handheld gadget that functions like a mini-map, displaying the floorplan of Snake’s immediate surroundings. The radar highlights soft walls and floors, connected staircases, and nearby threats, giving Snake exceptional environmental awareness.
The radar operates on a color-coded system: green for clear areas, yellow for active default cameras, and red for detected enemies. When switched into precision mode, the gadget becomes even more powerful, revealing enemy positions and their vision cones in real time at the cost of limited charges and cooldowns.
Defenders like Alibi, Vigil, and Mute can deceive or disrupt the radar entirely, while non-default camera gadgets from operators such as Valkyrie or Maestro remain invisible to Snake’s scans. Detection also alerts defenders, giving them a chance to reposition or bait an overconfident infiltrator.
Solid Snake’s unique ability and loadout weapons
Solid Snake also introduces a new mechanic to Siege: On-Site Procurement (OSP). Instead of spawning with a full set of secondary gadgets, Snake starts with just one item and can expand his loadout by scavenging utility pouches dropped by eliminated operators.
Over the course of a round, Snake can carry up to five different gadget types at once, including frag grenades, stun grenades, smoke grenades, impact EMPs, and breach charges. This allows him to adapt mid-round, rearming after a firefight or countering defensive setups without relying on teammates.
Snake has access to two primary weapons: the PMR90A2 marksman rifle and the F2 assault rifle. The F2, known for its punishing recoil, is receiving a buff in Operation Silent Hunt with new grip attachment options.
He also debuts a new secondary weapon, the TACIT .45 pistol, which features an integrated suppressor and reflex sight, complementing Snake’s role as a quiet and lethal infiltrator.
Metal Gear Solid event and Operation Silent Hunt updates
The collaboration goes beyond the new operator, as the Operation Silent Hunt Battle Pass also unlocks multiple Metal Gear Solid-themed cosmetics, including a Psycho Mantis outfit for Smoke.
Later in the season, a limited-time event will introduce a new 4v4 infiltration-style game mode on a Nighthaven Labs map variant inspired by iconic Metal Gear Solid locations. The event will also feature Snake teaming up with Sam Fisher, bringing two stealth icons together for the first time.
Additional cosmetics will reimagine Siege operators as Metal Gear Solid characters, including Jackal as Gray Fox and Ash as Meryl.
Operation Silent Hunt also modernizes three maps—Villa, Coastline, and Oregon—and marks the final season of Siege’s 6v6 Dual Front mode. Players who log in during the season can unlock Dual Front-exclusive cosmetics before the mode is retired.
In terms of balance changes, Ubisoft is targeting entry fraggers and roamers with a slate of updates, including speed boosts for Skopos, stronger Grzmot mines for Ela, buffs to Amaru and Alibi, and new limitations on shield operators breaking full-health barricades.
