Fans looking forward to any update regarding the status of Armored Core 6 were treated to a surprise new trailer on April 27, along with confirmation of an August 2023 release date. The news comes as a surprise given that the game was announced roughly 6 months ago at The Game Awards, indicating that the title has been in development for some time. In addition to revealing the release date for Armored Core 6, the latest trailer also shows off plenty of extended gameplay footage that indicates it truly be more of an Armored Core title and not the pivot into sci-fi Soulsborne territory that some anticipated.
Although not working directly on the game in a directorial capacity, Hidetaka Miyazaki is serving as a supervisor and provided direction on Armored Core 6's early development before handing the reigns to Masaru Yamamura. In speaking about the direction of the game, Miyazaki revealed that it has more in line with previous Armored Core titles and discouraged the idea that it would be a FromSoftware Soulsborne game with mechs. The release date trailer seems to echo this sentiment in the gameplay footage, and it appears that Armored Core 6 will be a better game for it.
Armored Core Has Its Own Identity Separate From Dark Souls
The first title in the Armored Core series released on the PlayStation 26 years ago this July. Since that first entry, the series has gone on to spawn more than 15 numbered sequels and spin-offs, creating a legion of dedicated fans in the process. While there is almost certainly some cross-pollination between the Armored Core and Soulsborne fanbases, there are almost surely players who would be upset at a significant departure from what the series is known for and for the next Armored Core to venture into third-person ARPG gameplay like Dark Souls or Bloodborne. Instead of using the notoriety gained from the Souls franchise and Elden Ring to drastically change the Armored Core formula, FromSoftware appears to instead be playing to the series' strengths.
One mechanic that appears to have been pulled from the Soulsborne titles in FromSoftware's library for inclusion in Armored Core 6 is the implementation of challenging boss encounters that test the limits of players' skills. Outside that one characteristic of the Soulsborne games, the rest of the Armored Core formula appears to be intact in the latest entry and is sure to please longtime fans of the series. The customization, strafe-dodging of incoming enemy fire, and action-packed mech combat are all present in the newest trailer, and it's commendable of FromSoftware to have maintained the series' design despite the popularity and sales of recent titles.
A Sci-Fi Soulsborne Developed By FromSoftware Is Still a Possibility
Prior to becoming known for the Souls series and Elden Ring, Armored Core was the flagship franchise for FromSoftware. With Armored Core 6 being the first series title in a post-Elden Ring landscape, it's understandable that many fans expected characteristics of FromSoftware's recent titles to carry over to a return to the Armored Core franchise. While Armored Core 6 isn't pulling from Dark Souls or Elden Ring significantly enough to be considered a Soulsborne title, that doesn't rule out the eventuality of a FromSoftware-developed ARPG with a sci-fi setting.
Deck13's The Surge series established that the soulslike formula works well in a sci-fi setting with robotic enemies, and it would be great to see FromSoftware tackle this setting in a future game as the progenitors of the genre. With Armored Core 6 sticking to the series' roots while also providing some updates to the combat and mechanics, there's a possibility that the franchise continues using its established formula while a new IP is developed to bring FromSoftware's Soulsborne formula into a science fiction universe. By staying true to the series' roots, FromSoftware may have the freedom to bring more games to fans both within and outside the Armored Core franchise.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is releasing on August 25 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
