For the last decade or so, FromSoftware has been making quite the name for itself. In 2011, a tiny game by the name of Dark Souls hit the market, and it quickly became a sensation among gaming critics. Two direct sequels and three successors later and FromSoftware is now known across the globe for its phenomenal Soulsborne series, but that's far from the only franchise the developer has worked on. In just a few weeks, fans will finally be able to get their hands on Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon.

Debuting all the way back in 1997, Armored Core is a third-person shooter series in which players take control of giant mechs called Armored Cores and fight their way across a vast range of battlefields, facing off against various corporations that all hire fellow Armored Core mercenaries to protect their own interests and assets. Releasing on August 25, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon marks the first game in the series in just over a decade, with Armored Core 5 dropping all the way back in 2012, and though fans are sure to find a lot of familiar faces and mechanics in Armored Core 6, quite a bit has changed.

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What To Know About Armored Core 6's Story

The first thing that players need to know about Armored Core 6's story is that it isn't really connected to past entries in the series. While there are probably going to be a ton of references and Easter eggs to the wider Armored Core universe, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is a completely standalone story in its own right, and FromSoftware confirmed as much in a December 2022 IGN interview.

Set in the distant future, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon sees humanity spread itself across the stars, establishing colonies on a plethora of different planets. One of these planets is Rubicon 3, where an all-powerful substance known as Coral has been found. Naturally, this Coral becomes the subject of a widespread treasure hunt, with corporations from across the galaxy coming to exploit the resource for their own benefit. Players take control of an augmented human simply referred to as C4-621, who becomes a mercenary in order to pay off their debts. After hopping in an Armored Core and dropping onto Rubicon 3's surface, players steal a mercenary license and take on the name Raven, and that's where Armored Core 6 begins.

What To Know About Armored Core 6's Gameplay

Over the last decade or so, FromSoftware has forged a clear identity when it comes to gameplay. Usual FromSoft games see players engage in slow, methodical combat, parrying and dodging their way to victory. Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon doesn't follow this usual FromSoft formula. While Armored Core 6's gameplay has a lock-on feature and is third-person, that's about where the similarities with the Souls series end.

Armored Core 6 is primarily a third-person shooter. Moment-to-moment gameplay will see players enter a large combat arena and face off against a handful of enemy mechs, firing all of their weapons, dodging oncoming projectiles, and zipping around the battlefield to achieve victory. Also unlike FromSoft's Souls series, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon will follow a strict mission structure. Between missions, players can dive into the real meat and potatoes of Armored Core 6: its customization system. From its four different weapon slots to its legs, core, and boosters, almost every inch of the player's Armored Core can be customized, with each minuscule change drastically affecting how the mech handles in combat. The real fun of Armored Core6 will be constantly tweaking builds to best suit the situation.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon comes out August 25 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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