Also announced were multiple updates coming to the general format of Rainbow Six esports, beginning with the start of Stage 1. The changes include: A coach timeout rule letting a coach stop play and strategize (exact details TBA); extended rosters to allow teams to compete at Regional and National levels; new Regional point system: wins are three points, overtime wins are two, overtime losses are one, and losses are zero; removal of draws, each match now ending in best-of-three overtime periods.

Each of the four regional leagues are receiving format changes at the start of the season as well. In North America for example, the U.S. and Canadian Divisions have merged into one 10-team league, which will play round robin-style competitions every Wednesday for six weeks, with the seventh week holding matches from Tuesday to Thursday. All NA matches will be played in an offline setting at the Esports Arena in Las Vegas, with proper cleanliness and sanitation requirements being followed.

The top-ranked teams in each region will immediately qualify for that stage’s Six Major, while the second, third and fourth place teams in each region, as well as the top two from the South Asia Nationals, will play for the final two spots in the major.

Photo courtesy of Ubisoft