As Operation Heavy Mettle kicks off, Rainbow Six Siege has announced that tennis star Daniil Medvedev will serve as a Game Ambassador. With almost 3,000 hours logged in Siege so far, Medvedev is an avid competitive player who is currently ranked Diamond, earning his spot among one of the highest tiers of Siege players. As a Game Ambassador, he will partner with the development team to provide feedback on early content and upcoming features. There will also be a Medvedev-themed cosmetic bundle coming in 2024, including a weapon skin, gear, and charm.
"We're proud and excited to work with Daniil. His creativity and strategically minded play are what make him so exciting both in tennis and in top-ranked matches of Rainbow Six Siege," said Director of Business Strategy Mohammed Benhenneda. "He's the perfect ambassador, representing what makes Siege different from any other game out there."
To learn a little bit more about Medvedev's history with Siege and his passion for the game, Ubisoft News interviewed the tennis pro about how much he plays, what he likes about the game, and which map you definitely don't want to see him on.
When did you start getting into Rainbow Six Siege?
Daniil Medvedev: I got really into it in 2016; that was the year I really starting putting hours in. All of my friends were playing it, so that attracted me to the game, and as I played it more and more, I fell in love with it.
When you sit down to play a session, what are you hoping to get out of it? What kind of competitive spirit do you bring to Siege?
DM: I want to have fun and be competitive. It's in my nature that I want to win at everything, and this game allows both - to have fun combined with the will to win.
With all your travel and competition commitments, where and when do you usually find time to play Siege?
DM: To be honest, I do not play when I travel for tournaments; I would be in trouble, as I would not go to sleep on time, so I only play when I am at home. I wish I could play more, but I also have to practice some tennis.
Rainbow Six Siege is a game that rewards strategizing in advance and adapting your tactics in the moment. How do you think your tennis career has influenced how you play Siege?
DM: Timing is very important; like in tennis, you need to find a good moment to attack. And, just as in tennis, you need to make a plan. But if the plan is not working, finding the right time to switch to a new plan is key. I guess my experience as a pro tennis player helps me with this.
Have you ever tried to recruit any of your coaches or fellow players to join a 5-stack?
DM: No, they would not be good enough, so I have not asked them to join. I started playing this game with my friends, and we have made some great memories. Spending all this time playing together, you really build a bond.
What's one piece of advice you'd give players looking to get into Siege or to elevate their game?
DM: Two things: First, play to win, be competitive. And second, practice your aim.
Fill in the blanks: If you are matched against Daniil Medvedev in Ranked play, you should always ban the map because .
DM: You should ban Kanal because it's my best map. But don't tell anyone.
Rainbow Six Siege just launched its latest season, Operation Heavy Mettle. The game is available now on Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, PC through Ubisoft Connect, Steam, and Amazon Luna, and is included in a Ubisoft+ subscription.
