It’s been more than 10 years since the last Armored Core game, and the franchise is set to return in epic fashion with Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon.
FromSoftware has become globally renowned for its high fantasy action games including 2022 Game of the Year Elden Ring and the critically acclaimed Dark Souls series. Before those games, the studio was primarily known for Armored Core. The line of mech shooters received new installments on an annual basis for years, with the games receiving generally favorable reviews over time.
A lot has changed for FromSoftware over the last 10 years, though. The studio is currently grinding away on the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, but is still finding the time to put together a brand new AAA title. Here’s everything you need to know about Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon and how FromSoftware fans should approach it.
What kind of game is Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon?
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is a mech shooter in the same vein as previous Armored Core games.
The Armored Core series drops players into open levels with a series of objectives. Though Soulsborne games, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring all have similar gameplay elements, Armored Core games are radically different from FromSoftware’s most popular titles.
Armored Core games are third-person shooters that have something akin to an over-the-shoulder perspective. It’s not quite over-the-shoulder though, as some games have had such quick movement that the player’s mech doesn’t maintain a fixed place on the screen. This will make for a fast-paced experience with players also having the opportunity to create their own unique play style.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon trailers
FromSoftware is generally stingy when it comes to trailers, but multiple Armored Core 6 trailers have already been released. Here’s each one for the game, and what fans can find in each one.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon reveal trailer (The Game Awards 2022)
The first reveal of Armored Core 6 came at The Game Awards in 2022. Ahead of Elden Ring winning game of the year honors, fans got their first glimpse of Armored Core 6 including some new abilities and the dystopian hellscape where players will do battle.
Armored Core 6 Gameplay Trailer (April 2023)
The first gameplay trailer didn’t give players a look at actual gameplay, but did show off many of the new abilities and weapons that can be incorporated into mechs. It also suggests players can get a lot more vertical than they could in past Armored Core games, which could suggest a more mobility-centric experience in the game.
Is Armored Core 6 a Soulslike game?
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is not a Soulslike or Soulsborne game. Though developer FromSoftware looks poised to incorporate some elements of its other recent titles, Armored Core has too much gunplay involved to be considered Soulslike.
That said, developing Soulsborne games for over a decade has changed the team’s approach to Armored Core to some degree. Early trailers show what appear to be large enemies with heavily telegraphed attacks. This does have much more of a Dark Souls feel when compared with the fast-paced gunfights of previous Armored Core games.
This would make for a much more Soulsborne-like experience than what was previously in the games. There are other gameplay elements that will be reminiscent of other FromSoftware games, but the game will ultimately be more akin to a shoot ‘em up than Dark Souls.
Will Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon be like Elden Ring?
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon will not be similar to Elden Ring.
Elden Ring combined Dark Souls’ gameplay and level design with an open-world setting. Armored Core 6 isn’t going to do either of these things. Though there are some gameplay elements that are similar to what Elden Ring and other recent FromSoftware games have offered, those looking to return to the Lands Between should just wait for the Elden Ring DLC to release.
Armored Core games have combat focused on gunplay, and have historically taken place in levels. Though these levels can be large and typically allow free movement, they don’t have the sandbox elements of Elden Ring.
When is Armored Core 6 coming out?
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is set to be released on August 25, 2023.
FromSoftware has long been known for releasing titles at a shockingly fast rate. The studio had a long history of releasing multiple titles per year and even though it has largely worked on AAA blockbusters since the success of Dark Souls 1, FromSoftware is still prolific in terms of its output.
The August 25 release date comes exactly 18 months after the launch of 2022 blockbuster Elden Ring. FromSoftware is also somehow finding the time to create the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC as it pushes out Armored Core. While most studios would be looked at with suspicion if they were aiming to drop two major releases while also developing a large DLC expansion, expectations are very high for FromSoftware.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon platforms
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon will be released on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC.
While the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are technically past-gen consoles at this point, both of them are still enjoying major releases. The new Armored Core title will help keep the consoles alive by launching on both platforms, alongside a PC release on Steam.
Unfortunately, the game will not be released on the Nintendo Switch any time soon. The Switch has been generally lacking in third-party releases and odds are that the game will be out of reach for what the platform is technically capable of. A release on the next-gen Nintendo platform is much more realistic than a Nintendo Switch release at this point.
