Testing Grounds arrives to R6 Siege X in January with armour and speed changes

Ubisoft has revealed more details for its upcoming Testing Grounds playlist, arriving in Rainbow Six Siege X next January.

Testing Grounds is a new experimental mode that allows players to test features in development, with the first subject surrounding changes to armour and speed.

In a video posted on Rainbow Six Siege X’s socials, a preview was shared on how the new armour and speed system works. Players can now customise how durable, mobile and loud an operator is before a match begins.

The video uses Gridlock as an example, an attack operator that was traditionally one armour and three speed. The new system allows players to adjust levels, with five levels of armour, three points for sound, a health range between 70 to 150 and customisable speed.

Based on the post, every 20 health added or removed enacts a 5% buff or penalty to speed, with sound ranging from normal, loud and presumably a ‘quiet’ option depending on how much health is delegated.

The Testing Ground aims to gather feedback from the community before it is fully implemented into the live version of the game. When the new armour and speed change will be added has yet to be confirmed by Ubisoft.

Long-time players may recognise Testing Grounds as something similar to the technical test servers that Ubisoft would hold in the past, exclusively for PC users.

Operators are an essential part of the competitive balance of Rainbow Six Siege X, and so changes to armour and speed will undoubtedly shake up the meta for both the casual and professional scenes.

Depending on how long it takes to gather feedback and how quickly the feature is implemented, fans may see the change affect the 2026 Six Invitationals in February. Even if it misses out, the change will still be in effect for future tournaments and majors next season.