Rainbow Six Siege shoutcaster KiXSTAr on the game’s “constant power creep”

For many people, it’s the shoutcasters rather than the players that get them hooked on esports. Commentators who can break down the intricacies of every play, relay the excitement of each round, and tell a compelling story in the space of three minutes. Rainbow Six Siege and its esports scene have undergone huge changes since the game released in December 2015, with enormous growth in both the game’s playerbase and esports viewership. To give you an example of just how big both scenes are now, this year’s Six Invitational was watched for a combined six million hours, and the game changes announced during its Year 4 and Burnt Horizon panels will affect nearly 45 million players. Michael ‘KiXSTAr’ Stockley is among the best-known faces of Rainbow Six Siege’s esports scene. After starting out as a player and moving on to casting, KiX has become a key part of the competitive community and for many the voice of Pro League, alongside fellow caster Parker ‘Interro’ Mackay. We spoke with ‘KiXSTAr’ at the Six Invitational 2019 to discuss his journey through Siege, the difficulties some Pro League regions face, and the impossible task of balancing the game for casuals and pro players simultaneously.