This Week at Ubisoft: Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Releases Rayman DLC; XDefiant Joins YouTube’s World’s Greatest Competition

This week at Ubisoft, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope's final DLC, Rayman in the Phantom Show, launched, and Ubisoft News interviewed Creative Director Davide Soliani about bringing Rayman into the Rabbids' world; XDefiant is set to kick off the second day of YouTube's World's Greatest tournament; tennis star Daniil Medvedev was named a Game Ambassador for Rainbow Six Siege alongside the start of Operation Heavy Mettle; and Ubisoft+ added two new indie games to its library. Check it all out and more in this week's roundup of Ubisoft news.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope: Rayman in the Phantom Show DLC Available Now

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope's third and final DLC, Rayman in the Phantom Show, launched on August 30, bringing two familiar characters to the game: Rayman and the Phantom of the Bwahpera. In the new story, the Phantom has lured Rayman, Rabbid Peach, and Rabbid Mario to his Space Opera Network in an attempt to boost his ratings. Rayman brings fresh elements of combat and exploration with his Haircopter and remote punch abilities, and while he can't equip Sparks, his Vortex and Rocket costume changes give him the power to draw in or blast through enemies.

XDefiant to be Featured in YouTube's World's Greatest Gaming Tournament

YouTube Gaming is sponsoring the World's Greatest competition September 2-3. Hosted by content creator Ludwig "Ludwig" Ahgren, the tournament will pit some of the best players in the world representing different gaming disciplines against one another in various genres including titles like XDefiant, Trackmania, Minecraft, Lego 2k Drive, and more. XDefiant will kick things off on the second day, with two teams of six facing off in a best of five round of matches featuring the game modes Domination, Hotshot, Escort, and Occupy. The winning team will continue to the next round of the tournament, while the losing team will be at risk of elimination.

Rayman in the Phantom Show: Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Comes Full Circle

Rayman may be joining the Rabbids in Rayman in the Phantom Show, but the Rabbids were first introduced in Rayman Raving Rabbids, bringing the two entities full circle in Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope's DLC. That isn't the only reunion taking place, however: Davide Soliani, creative director for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, has a history of working on Rayman games dating back to 1999. Ubisoft News spoke with Soliani to learn more about why the development team chose to bring Rayman into the tactical RPG, how they adapted his gameplay mechanics, and how Soliani's history with the character helped bring him into Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope.

Rainbow Six Siege Names Tennis Star Daniil Medvedev as Game Ambassador

Daniil Medvedev isn't just a tennis star - he's an avid Rainbow Six Siege player as well, with almost 3,000 hours logged and a Diamond tier ranking. On August 29, he was named a Game Ambassador for Rainbow Six Siege, meaning he will give feedback to the development team about upcoming game content, and a Medvedev cosmetic bundle is coming in 2024, which will include a weapon skin, gear, and charm. Ubisoft News interviewed Medvedev to learn more about when he started playing Rainbow Six Siege, how he finds time to play amidst a busy tennis schedule, and how his professional career helps him excel in the tactical battlefields.

Ubisoft+ Adds Cyber Hook and The Wanderer: Frankenstein's Creature

On August 31, Ubisoft+ added two new indie games to its vast library. Cyber Hook, developed by Blazing Stick and published by Graffiti Games, is a fast-paced parkour game where players have only two tools at their disposal: a grappling hook to swing across gaps and scale walls, and a blaster to blow away any obstacles or enemies in the way. The Wanderer: Frankenstein's Creature, developed by La Belle Games and published by ARTE France, is a text-based adventure that puts you in the shoes of Frankenstein's creature through its journey of humanity, seeking answers to the meaning of life.

Top 5 Ubisoft+ Games To Play While Waiting For The Crew Motorfest

The Crew Motorfest is racing onto consoles and PC on September 14, and those who pre-order premium editions of the game will get access three days early. With a Ubisoft+ subscription, you can get access to those premium editions and play the game early. While you're waiting to race across O'ahu, you can use your Ubisoft+ subscription to play some of the most popular games on the platform, from Assassin's Creed Valhalla to Rainbow Six Siege to Watch Dogs: Legion.

Ubisoft+ Spotlight - The Crew 2

(Editorial note: This is a series of quick weekly highlights written by Ubisoft News team writers that feature games available with a Ubisoft+ subscription. We hope you'll enjoy reminiscing with us, or perhaps discover something new.)

Brittany Spurlin, Writer/Editor: Get ready to become the greatest motorsports champion in The Crew 2 as you race your way across the USA. Whether you're joining a Pro Racing exhibition, drifting through a street race, offroading across the Midwest, or exploring the most recent Season Story (like Season 9's American Legends), The Crew 2 is a playground for car enthusiasts. If there's a car event you'd love to do that isn't already in the game, you can use the Race Creator Tool to make your own race, where you can set up the starting point, checkpoints, and parameters. You can share your race with other players in the community, or take part in ones they've created.

The Crew 2 also lets you collect cars and customize your ride. Whether you prefer the Aston Martin Vulcan, the Coupe DeVille, the Camaro, or the Mustang, you'll be able to upgrade and restyle its color, livery, and, most importantly, its performance. By modding the brakes, engine, tires, and more, you'll be able to create a ride you love that suits your driving style and will help you race your way to the winner's circle. The Crew 2 also regularly releases Seasons and Episodes, each of which introduce a new story and new vehicles to collect.

Plus, when The Crew Motorfest launches on September 14, you can import your garage from The Crew 2. Start building your garage and get racing in The Crew 2 today with a Ubisoft+ subscription.

Game Updates

Rainbow Six Siege deployed the Y8S3 patch notes on August 29 alongside the Operation Heavy Mettle season launch.

• Fixed an issue where players couldn't finish the Attack tutorial if they eliminated a dummy before the "Eliminate Opponents" objective is active

• Players can no longer glitch through walls with the Exit Rappel and Breach Charges

• The Cliffside spawn point has been re-added to the Chalet map

Solis can now detect Ram's BU-GI when she holds it