During the Six Invitational in Paris, France, the studio finally pulled back the curtain on one of the worst-kept secrets in Siege history: Solid Snake is officially joining Rainbow Six Siege as part of Y11S1, titled Operation Silent Hunt.

And yes David Hayter is back.

The reveal trailer, shown live at the Six Invitational, brought the Paris crowd to its feet. In the cinematic, Snake is welcomed into the fold by none other than Sam Fisher, creating a crossover moment that felt almost inevitable given Ubisoft’s history with stealth icons.

Behind the scenes, Ubisoft confirmed that Konami worked closely with the team to bring authentic audio cues from the Metal Gear franchise into Siege. That means players can expect familiar alert sounds and subtle nods woven directly into gameplay.

Dataminers had already uncovered references to Snake late last month, so many expected something big at the Invitational. Still, seeing it officially confirmed complete with Hayter reprising the role landed differently.

Snake’s Role in Siege

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege is no stranger to high-profile crossovers, but this is something else entirely. Solid Snake isn’t a cosmetic. He’s a permanent Operator.

Stat-wise, he slots in as a one-health, three-speed Operator fragile, but fast. It’s exactly what you’d expect from one of gaming’s most legendary stealth specialists.

Loadout

Snake’s weapon kit blends Siege firepower with his Metal Gear roots:

• F2 assault rifle
• PMR90A2 battle rifle
• TACIT .45, a suppressed handgun that feels right at home in his hands

His unique gadget, the OSP Pouch, introduces a radar-based early warning system. That’s also where those classic Metal Gear sound effects kick in, giving players subtle but unmistakable audio feedback straight from Snake’s legacy.

It’s fan service but functional fan service.

Operation Silent Hunt and the [REDACTED] Event

Y11S1 isn’t just about a new Operator. Ubisoft is launching a themed event alongside Snake’s arrival.

Codenamed [REDACTED], the limited-time mode features a 4v4 setup and includes recognizable characters from the Metal Gear universe as exclusive skins. Ubisoft hasn’t revealed the full roster yet, but expectations are sky-high.

With Siege entering its eleventh year, Operation Silent Hunt is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about seasonal launches in recent memory.

There’s something fitting about Snake joining Siege at this stage in its life cycle. Both franchises built reputations on tension, precision, and information control. Siege has evolved dramatically over the years, but its core still rewards patience and calculated aggression qualities Snake practically defined.

Bringing back David Hayter seals the deal. This isn’t a half-measure crossover. It’s a full embrace of the character.

Operation Silent Hunt launches with Year 11 Season 1, and if the Paris reaction was anything to go by, Siege might be entering one of its most explosive chapters yet.