Key Highlights :
FromSoftware’s long-awaited sequel Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon will be launching on PS5 and PS4 on 25th August, 2023, much earlier than expected. The title looks incredibly polished in the brand new gameplay trailer, which leans heavily into the classic Armored Core gameplay loop. Despite the developer’s more recent success with its Soulsbourne series, it’s plotting a more traditional experience here.
Featuring highly mobile and customisable mechas, the game will put players in fast-paced battles where they can make full use of offensive and defensive manoeuvres on both land and in the air to overcome foes. Players must master rapidly changing combat distances, using the environment for protective cover, and omni-directional battles to become the most successful and profitable mercenary on Rubicon 3.
The game is looking and sounding good, but it remains to be seen how newcomers will take to it. The last Armored Core released a little over a decade ago on the PS3, and it received middling scores overall. Nevertheless, it’s clear FromSoftware has been given a much bigger budget for this entry, so it could be the title that catapults the series into the mainstream for the first time in its 25 year-plus history.
Reactions to the trailer have been mixed, with some gamers excited to play the game, while others are not so sure. Some are concerned that the mechs may be too small and nimble, or that the environments may be dull. Others are looking forward to the game as a spiritual successor to Daemon X Machina, while some are just excited to see the Armored Core franchise make a comeback.
It’s clear that this game will be a must-play for fans of the franchise, but it remains to be seen whether it will be able to capture the hearts of newcomers. With its slick visuals and intense action, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon looks set to be an incredible experience when it launches in August.