Arcade 3V3 & Wasteland Circuit Event Overview - R6S Y11S3: Operation Split Fire

Two new limited time game modes are officially coming to Rainbow Six Siege in September, alongside a host of rewards available to unlock. In this guide we’ll go through what they are, and when you can expect to play them.

A new way to scrim with your friends will be coming to Rainbow Six Siege later this year, with arcade mode returning, in the form of 3v3 matches. This mode aims to give a new take on the original bomb mode, by limiting team size and putting a big focus on faster pace gameplay.

Matches will now have 7 rounds maximum, with the first team to win 4 out of 6 rounds will be declared the winner. Assuming it comes down to a tie breaker, there is one additional round that will be used as the deciding factor. Additionally, prep phase in 3v3 will only last a total of 30 seconds, down from the expected 45 seconds you’d find in a mode like Ranked.

Lastly, all attackers and defenders are available, making 3v3 perfect for those looking to practice strategies on new operators without the commitment needed for larger games like 5v5. There’s also no banning of operators like ranked. However it must be noted that operator attrition is here, meaning teams cannot play the same operator again after a round has been won with them.

3v3 Arcade arrives in Rainbow Six Siege on September 11th 2026, where it will be live until September 20th, 2026.

The second mode coming to Siege is known as Wasteland Circuit, and is advertised as a grand prix using drones. Players will compete across 3 tracks to see who is the fastest, and most intelligent drone player in the lobby.

The developers describe this gamemode as having a flow to it, with each map utilizing different themes. Players will need to attack each map with a different strategy in order to win, so make sure to keep your wits about you for each track. The rewards for this limited time mode include Alpha Packs, gun skins, operator skins, and of course… Brand new paint jobs for your drones.

Wasteland Circuit arrives in Rainbow Six Siege on September 23rd 2026, where it will be live until October 13th, 2026.