Solid Snake, the legendary stealth infiltrator from Konami’s Metal Gear Solid franchise, joins Rainbow Six Siege as a permanent playable operator when Operation Silent Hunt launches March 3, 2026. This crossover brings Snake’s signature Soliton Radar MKIII gadget and On-Site Procurement ability into Ubisoft’s tactical shooter, allowing players to track defender positions and scavenge battlefield supplies.
Creative director Joshua Mills confirmed to GameSpot that securing David Hayter for English voice-over was a core objective. “It’s just very iconic, and we really wanted to be able to deliver that,” Mills stated. Hayter, who voiced Snake from 1998’s Metal Gear Solid through 2010’s Peace Walker, returns after a decade-long absence from the role. The team tested Snake’s signature cardboard box in early prototypes, but ultimately implemented the Soliton Radar system as a better fit for Siege’s tactical gameplay.
The Metal Gear Solid collaboration extends beyond Snake himself. The Operation Silent Hunt Battle Pass instantly unlocks the operator and includes Metal Gear cosmetics, featuring a Psycho Mantis outfit for Smoke. Later in the season, a limited-time event introduces a 4v4 infiltration mode where Snake teams up with Zero (Sam Fisher) on a modified Nighthaven Labs map. Additional cosmetic outfits transform Jackal into Gray Fox and Ash into Meryl. For more gaming updates, check out PS Plus February 2026 additions and the God of War Greek trilogy remake announcement.
🎮 Solid Snake Infiltrates Rainbow Six Siege
Metal Gear Solid Legend Joins as Permanent Operator
Snake brings unprecedented versatility and intel-gathering capabilities to attacking teams.
Operator Gadgets & Abilities
Armed with the Soliton Radar MKIII and On-Site Procurement training, Snake excels at tracking defenders and adapting to battlefield conditions.
Interactive Abilities Breakdown
Master Snake’s gadgets with detailed intel on mechanics, counters, and tactical applications.
Soliton Radar MKIII – Detection Mechanics
The Soliton Radar MKIII displays green lines delineating level layout. Walls shown as dotted lines and floors with striped backgrounds indicate soft surfaces you can breach or destroy. The radar only covers Snake’s current floor and connected staircases, not the entire building.
Precision mode has limited charges with cooldown timers between activations. Use strategically during coordinated pushes or when gathering intel for solo infiltration routes.
On-Site Procurement (OSP) – Adaptive Loadout System
Unlike standard operators who begin rounds with their full secondary gadget complement, Snake starts with only one item. Every eliminated operator drops a utility pouch that Snake can loot to build his arsenal during the round.
To loot, use the switch ability key to select an empty gadget slot, then interact with or run over the utility pouch. You can carry one gadget per category simultaneously, allowing tactical flexibility as rounds progress.
Defending Against Snake – Counter Tactics
Defenders receive on-screen notifications when Snake’s Soliton Radar detects them, providing opportunities to reposition or counterattack. Several operators possess abilities that deceive or disrupt the radar entirely.
Operators checking their gadgets have lowered weapons. Aggressive defenders can exploit the moment Snake consults his radar to launch counterattacks while he’s vulnerable.
Weapon Arsenal
Snake’s loadout balances precision, firepower, and stealth with three primary options and the exclusive TACIT .45 sidearm.
Operation Silent Hunt Timeline
A season-long collaboration bringing Metal Gear Solid into Rainbow Six Siege’s Year 11.
The collaboration between Konami and Ubisoft marks Snake’s first major appearance outside the Metal Gear franchise since Kiefer Sutherland replaced David Hayter for Ground Zeroes and Phantom Pain. Mills and content director Christopher Budgen confirmed to GameSpot that Snake and Zero previously knew each other before the events of Operation Silent Hunt. “What’s unique about Year 11 Season 1 is it’s a one-off story element where Zero calls in a favor to Snake, and Snake answers that call and helps him with a personal mission,” Mills explained. Both characters will remain playable operators but exit the narrative after Season 1 concludes.
The development team tested multiple approaches before finalizing Snake’s abilities. Early prototypes included the signature cardboard box from Metal Gear games, but the feature proved impractical for Siege’s fast-paced tactical gameplay. The Soliton Radar MKIII and On-Site Procurement system better suited the game’s emphasis on intel-gathering and strategic adaptation.
Operation Silent Hunt joins other major gaming announcements in early 2026, contrasting with struggles elsewhere in the industry like Highguard’s 96% player drop. Rainbow Six Siege continues expanding its roster through crossover collaborations while maintaining core tactical shooter mechanics. The crossover was covered at the Rainbow Six Invitational event, where Ubisoft revealed Year 11 roadmap details including Ranked 3.0 updates, the new Calypso Casino map, and console mouse-keyboard support arriving in later seasons.