How to Pause in Rainbow Six Extraction

Rainbow Six Extraction is a PvE co-op game where players fight a highly lethal ever-evolving threat. As with any non-PvP game, there’s surely a way to pause the gameplay in case someone needs to go AFK for a minute, right? Well, if you’re trying to figure out how to pause in Rainbow Six Extraction, you might be in for a bit of disappointment.

How to Pause in Rainbow Six Extraction

There is no way to pause in Rainbow Six Extraction while in the middle of an incursion. This applies to both single-player and multiplayer squads. Pressing escape to look through your game settings or checking out your objectives does not pause the game, so be careful if there are enemies nearby!

If you have to leave your computer for a moment, your best bet is to either hide in a safe place, leave the game, or head for the extraction point. Remember that if you opt for hiding in a corner, the timer will continue to run down, so make sure you’re back on time, or you’ll become MIA.

Extracting is always a good option as it essentially allows you to bank your progress toward leveling up your character. You can find one extraction point in each of the three sub-zones in any location. If there are no extraction points nearby and you have to leave your game for whatever reason, quitting is probably the next best option. Obviously, this can depend on how long you’re planning to go AFK. 

If you only anticipate being AFK for a couple of minutes, hiding is always feasible. You can head to a nearby airlock or extraction point. These are not exactly guaranteed safe zones, but they’re a lot safer than just standing in the open.

Let’s assume you need to minimize your game, and you’re in a multiplayer match. You can change a setting that allows you to continue hearing the game while it’s minimized. You can find the ‘Mute Game On Unfocused’ option in the Audio Settings menu. Turn this setting off, and you’ll be able to hear your squadmates on voice. If things get heated, tab back into the game and help out.