Rainbow Six Siege: Optimizing GameSettings.ini for High Refresh Rate

Rainbow Six Siege is a highly optimized tactical shooter, but it still suffers from visual clutter like ambient occlusion and heavy “bloom” that can obscure enemies in dark corners or near bright windows. By modifying the GameSettings.ini, we can force the game to use the most efficient display modes and ensure that the “TAA” (Temporal Anti-Aliasing) doesn’t introduce unwanted motion blur. This is essential for competitive players who need a crystal-clear image while leaning and peeking at high speeds.

Hardware Compatibility & Expectations

• High Refresh Rate Users: Essential for maintaining a stable FPS that matches or exceeds 240Hz/360Hz.
• CPU-Bound Systems: Tweaks to physics and shadow counts help older CPUs maintain consistent 1% lows.
• Competitive Visibility: Reduces environmental “noise,” making player silhouettes stand out against the tactical debris.

Backup and Preparation

Before editing your configuration, make sure the game and the Ubisoft Connect client are not interfering.

1. Close Rainbow Six Siege.
2. Navigate to the directory below.
3. Right-click GameSettings.ini, select Copy, and paste it into a backup folder.
4. Use Notepad or Notepad++ for editing.

File Location

Ubisoft stores Siege settings in a folder named after your unique User ID within the Documents directory: C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Documents\My Games\Rainbow Six - Siege\[USER_ID]\GameSettings.ini

Note: If you have multiple accounts, look for the folder that was “Last Modified” recently.

Best Config Settings

Open the file and locate the [DISPLAY], [GRAPHICS], and [INPUT] sections. Update the values to match this competitive template:

[DISPLAY]
WindowMode=0 // 0 = Fullscreen for lowest latency
RefreshRate=360.000000 // Set to your monitor's max refresh rate
Vsync=0

[GRAPHICS]
TAAFiltering=0.000000
AdaptiveRenderScaling=0
Brightness=55.000000
LODQuality=1 // Ultra LOD is recommended for competitive to see players at distance
ShadowQuality=1 // Medium is the sweet spot for seeing player shadows
ReflectionQuality=0
AmbientOcclusion=0
LensEffects=0
DepthOfField=0

[INPUT]
RawInputMouseKeyboard=1

Key Parameters Explained

Parameter	Recommended Value	Impact
WindowMode	0	Forces Exclusive Fullscreen, bypassing Windows DWM for lower input lag.
LODQuality	1 (Ultra)	Crucial: Prevents player models from turning into “low-poly” shapes at long distances.
ShadowQuality	1 (Medium)	At Medium, you can still see enemy shadows, which is a vital tactical cue.
RawInputMouseKeyboard	1	Bypasses Windows mouse acceleration for 1:1 precision.
TAAFiltering	0.000000	Removes the sharpening filter that can cause “halos” and visual artifacts.

In-Game Settings vs. Config

To maximize your high refresh rate experience, match these settings in-game:

• API: Use Vulkan (If available). Vulkan generally provides better frame consistency and supports NVIDIA Reflex.
• NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency: On + Boost.
• Texture Filtering: Anisotropic 4x or 8x (Keeps floors sharp without heavy GPU load).
• Render Scaling: 100% (Avoid lowering this as it makes long-range pixel-peeking impossible).

Troubleshooting & Common Fixes

• Settings Not Saving: Ubisoft Connect sometimes syncs with the cloud. If your edits disappear, right-click GameSettings.ini, select Properties, and check Read-only.
• Black Screen on Launch: This happens if the RefreshRate in the config is higher than your monitor supports. Lower it to your native refresh (e.g., 144.000000).
• Game Crashing on Vulkan: If the Vulkan API crashes, revert to DX11 by changing the launch option in Ubisoft Connect/Steam.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion and Expected Results

By optimizing the GameSettings.ini, you eliminate the cinematic “fluff” that hinders competitive performance. Players typically report a cleaner visual field and a significant reduction in input delay, making “flick shots” and fast peeks feel much more responsive. Ensure your GPU drivers are updated to take full advantage of the Vulkan and Reflex features.