Armored Core 6: Fires Of Rubicon Release Date Confirmed With New Gameplay Reveal

Developer FromSoftware released the first official image and gameplay trailer for the upcoming vehicular combat game Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon. This latest entry in the Armored Core series comes ten years following Armored Core V before the development team worked on Dark Soul II & III, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and their recent project, Elden Ring.

Four months since the game's official announcement at The Game Awards, the developer has finally provided players with the first look into the gameplay for Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon. Additionally, they have provided the official release date for the game, which is arriving on PC, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S consoles on 25th August 2023.

The three-minute-long cinematic gameplay trailer showcased the game's enhanced mecha-inspired vehicular combat systems and Rubicon's beautiful yet destructive world, central to the game's narrative. Compared to previous entries, Armored Core VI appears to be venturing into science fiction themes, a massive shift from the earlier games FromSoftware had produced.

Players will be controlling a mercenary, C4-621, operating a mecha that will be utilized in "high-speed mecha combat," which possesses the capability of maneuvring quickly when on the ground and in the air. FromSoftware explained that while the game is a massive departure from previous projects; however, the mecha's controls will be familiar to those who've experienced a FromSoftware game.

As for the world of Rubicon, the story sees a new energy source, Coral, being discovered, nearly destroying the once-pristine world. With Rubicon being reduced to riches and ruin, there are plenty of areas worth exploring as you'll learn more about the planet and the disaster caused by the Coral.

According to an interview with PlayStation Blog, game director Masaru Yamamura had this to say about the world of Rubicon:

It's an intricate and multi-layered world, brimming with mega-structures and enormous underground facilities built by its former inhabitants. These structures cover a planetary surface wracked with extreme cold and contamination in the aftermath of the great disaster, and the player will be exploring these various environments as they proceed.

Rubicon will provide the game with a massive scale and heighten the game's exploration components as players can endlessly venture into new areas and uncover mysteries. Additionally, this aids in your gameplay progression as you'll encounter various situations and objectives, including data logs, that will progress the missions.

The trailer also revealed shots of boss battles, which confirms previous reports made by FromSoftware that they'll be huge in Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon. Not only do they appear menacing and larger, but Yamamura stated that these mechanical monstrosities "will offer several explosive battle experiences that challenge players to fight against the odds and overcome these ginormous, more abnormal mechs."

Furthermore, the game's customization feature will help fend off bosses of all sizes and strengths, allowing you to tailor-fit your mecha with various parts and upgrade its weaponry. To completely customize your AC is a beautiful paint job to perfectly create a mecha that's unique and devastatingly stunning to look at when in combat.

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon will officially release for PC, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S consoles on 25th August 2023. Pre-orders are now available for all platforms with pre-order bonuses included, and the Premium and Collector's Editions are available to pre-order from the Bandai Namco Store.