Operation Split Fire, the third season of Year 11 in Rainbow Six Siege, launches on September 1, 2026. It adds the defender Noor, opens the second ranked 3.0 playlist alongside a new Legend Division, and reworks part of Villa. Servers go offline briefly for maintenance before the update becomes playable on every platform.
Quick answer: Operation Split Fire releases on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 10 AM EDT / 2 PM UTC. The timing is identical across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Expect a short server downtime before you can play.
Release time: September 1, 2026, at 2:00 PM UTC (10:00 AM EDT)
Operation Split Fire release status
Status: Confirmed. The update deploys on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Maintenance begins at 10 AM EDT / 2 PM UTC, and all official servers go offline during that window. Once the downtime ends, the new season content is live and you can jump straight into a match.
The release is synchronized, so there is no staggered rollout by platform. PC, PlayStation, and Xbox players all get access at the same moment.
Start time in every region
Use the table below to find the exact launch moment in your time zone. Most regions see the update on September 1, while parts of Oceania roll into September 2 due to the time difference.
| Time zone | Date and time |
|---|---|
| Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) | September 1, 2026, 7:00 AM |
| Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) | September 1, 2026, 8:00 AM |
| Central Daylight Time (CDT) | September 1, 2026, 9:00 AM |
| Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) | September 1, 2026, 10:00 AM |
| Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) | September 1, 2026, 2:00 PM |
| Central European Summer Time (CEST) | September 1, 2026, 4:00 PM |
| Moscow Standard Time (MSK) | September 1, 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Indian Standard Time (IST) | September 1, 2026, 7:30 PM |
| China Standard Time (CST) | September 1, 2026, 10:00 PM |
| Japan Standard Time (JST) | September 1, 2026, 11:00 PM |
| Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEST) | September 2, 2026 |
| New Zealand Daylight Time (NZST) | September 2, 2026, 1:00 AM |
Note: The maintenance runs for roughly an hour based on previous seasonal patches. You will know the update is ready when servers come back online and the client prompts you to install the new patch.
Noor, the new defender
Noor is an Egyptian defender built to counter shield operators. His Horus Lance Launcher fires five projectiles that pierce ballistic shields and destructible surfaces before bursting into flames. The projectiles travel through floors, ceilings, and from adjacent rooms, and they also affect devices like Castle’s Armor Panels and Azami’s Kiba Barriers.
He carries the Commando 9 assault rifle or the ALDA 5.56 light machine gun as his primary, with the 1911 TACOPS or Bailiff 410 as a secondary. His gadget choices are the Deployable Shield or Barbed Wire. Noor is rated three stars for both health and speed.
Legend Division and Ranked 3.0
This season marks the second ranked 3.0 playlist and introduces the Legend Division, a SoloQ-only playlist for the highest-skill players. Eligibility requires current Champion rank, Platinum rank last season, a positive reputation standing, and completed security requirements.
The new ShieldGuard Secure Platform requires PC players to enable Secure Boot, Windows Memory Integrity (HVCI), and TPM 2.0. You also need to grant temporary administrative privileges to verify these settings and add an authenticator app for 2-step verification on your Ubisoft account. Legend Division opens mid-season, at which point players lock their region and start climbing the leaderboard.
Players who reach the top 100 earn a charm the following season showing their final leaderboard position, but they only keep it while they stay in the top 100.
Villa update and modernized maps
Villa receives a targeted map update focused on the basement and garage. The Living Room/Library bomb site moves downstairs to create an alternative objective, and the garage becomes interior instead of exterior, changing how attackers approach the east side. Supporting layout changes improve flow and droning lanes across the surrounding area.
Stadium Alpha, Stadium Bravo, and House also get modernization passes this season, and the shooting range and tutorial receive graphic updates.
New modes arriving later in the season
Two limited-time experiences land after launch. The 3v3 Arcade mode is a smaller, faster take on bomb, with 7 rounds max and a 30-second preparation phase. There are no operator bans, but operator attrition prevents a team from reusing an operator after winning a round with them.
The Wasteland Circuit event runs for three weeks and is the game’s first drone racing mode. Drones compete across multiple races, picking up item and boost balloons along the track, with points awarded by finishing position to determine the circuit winner.
Key balancing changes
Split Fire tunes several weapons and operators. The SMG-12 and the AR-15.50 both see notable nerfs, while a few operators receive small buffs. The table below covers the most impactful adjustments.
| Item | Change |
|---|---|
| SMG-12 | Damage cut to 16 HP (from 28), magazine to 22 (from 32), max ammo to 111 (from 129) |
| AR-15.50 | Damage reduced to 59 HP (from 67), recoil increased |
| SPSMG9 | Damage increased to 35 HP (from 33) |
| Mk 14 EBR | Damage reduced to 56 HP (from 60); mouse first-shot multiplier up to 3.5 |
| Kapkan | Damage increased to 62 HP (from 60) |
| Echo | Sonic Burst refill reduced to 15 seconds (from 16) |
| Dokkaebi | Jegeo Payload needs constant connection; EMP grenades removed, Breach Charges added |
Three operators also get cheaper. Ram drops to 10,000 Renown (240 R6 Credits), Skopos to 15,000 Renown (360 R6 Credits), and Denari to 20,000 Renown (480 R6 Credits). Players below clearance level 10 now deal reduced friendly-fire damage, and the mini-map is available in Quick Match to help newer players learn map layouts.
With the launch time locked and the maintenance window short, the fastest way to get in on September 1 is to have the update queued to download the moment servers return.
