After a decade-long hiatus, FromSoftware is returning to where it all began for the studio with the release of Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, a title that deviates from the studio's recent Soulsborne success but aims to capture the interest of new and veteran players.
This summer release is promising a fusion of fast-paced, third-person shooting and close-quarters combat, featuring agile mechs in sprawling industrial landscapes ripe for exploration.
FromSoftware, well-renowned for the Dark Souls series, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring, has shown a consistent knack for producing games that excel in challenging gameplay, intricate level design, and immersive storytelling. With Armored Core VI, the studio leverages its design prowess and hard-earned reputation to deliver an exhilarating mech experience with an emphasis on scale, customization, and the rewarding sense of overcoming significant challenges.
As leaked earlier this week, FromSoftware finally lifted the review embargo on the initial impressions about the gameplay demo of Armored Core VI shown off at the Summer Game Fest.
Yasunori Ogura, the producer of the game, was present at the event to help show off what FromSoftware has been working on alongside Elden Ring and the studio's next project.
In the hands-off preview shown at the Summer Game Fest, select viewers were introduced to an immersive mission set in a sprawling factory facility, Grid 086. It showcased an agile mech maneuvering through an industrial terrain using jetpacks – a core mechanic vital for both combat and traversal. This jetpack feature allowed for fluid shifts between close and mid-range combat, thereby enhancing the gameplay's dynamism.
As per Polygon, Ogura emphasized the three main things about Armored Core VI in his presentation: "3D level design with a sense of scale; assembly in battle design (customizing mechs); and experiencing a sense of accomplishment through overcoming difficulties."
But, make no mistake, Ogura wants fans to know that Armored Core VI won't just be a Soulsborne game with a mech twist, with Digital Trends describing the action as "happening at a speed unlike any other modern FromSoftware game."
FromSoftware apparently emphasized how mobility is key to Armored Core VI in its showcase.
However, one aspect that stood out, as per IGN, is how Armored Core VI appears to be less punishing than some of FromSoftware's previous titles. With the provision of periodic resupply points and the option to respawn a short distance away after defeat, it appears the game aims to find a balance between providing a challenging experience and maintaining accessible gameplay for a broader audience.
Ironically, this is a recurring theme with FromSoftware's latest outings, including Elden Ring.
As much as FromSoftware has built a name for making impossibly difficult games, Elden Ring gave its players a plethora of combat options that gave them multiple opportunities to address whatever dangerous threat presented itself in front of them.
This didn't necessarily make Elden Ring easier at all but it did make it more accessible compared to, let's say, Bloodborne, Demon's Souls, and so on.
Perhaps the development teams of Elden Ring and Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon shared notes on how they can find a way to maintain the studio's penchant for making lives miserable while also drawing in more people to give their games a try.
Given that Elden Ring is the studio's best-selling title date, the approach appears to have worked - at least for the highly acclaimed title.
While Armored Core VI might borrow certain elements from its stablemates, it won't be open-world. Instead, it's structured around missions, allowing players to earn money for upgrading their mechs upon completion. Although seemingly rigid, it's designed to provide ample opportunities for player-driven exploration and experimentation. Moreover, FromSoftware's history of excellent boss design hints at a series of thrilling encounters awaiting players.
FromSoftware's Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is slated for release on August 25 and will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC (via Steam), Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
We'll find out more about Armored Core VI as the review embargo lifts, presumably a week before the game comes out. But, given the early impressions, the game could very well meet the lofty expectations surrounding its impending release.
