Summary
Releasing in just a few days' time,Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubiconis a sequel a decade in the making, and fans are rightfully excited to finally get their hands on it. Long beforeDark Souls, and much longer beforeElden Ring, FromSoftware was primarily known for its third-personmech shooter franchiseArmored Core, which originally debuted all the way back in 1997 on the PS1. ThoughArmored Coretook a lengthy hiatus, it’s back and looking better than ever, though newer FromSoftware fans shouldn’t rush in straight away.
According to just about every preview,Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubiconwill be yet another phenomenal AAA release to add onto this year’s ever-growing pile, taking the beloved DNA of the original series and giving it a suitably modern twist. But that doesn’t mean thatArmored Core 6is anotherDark SoulsorElden Ring, nor does it need to be.Armored Core 6uses a more traditional FromSoftware design, and it could end up marking the start of a new cycle for the now-renowned developer.
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Armored Core 6 Could Begin a New Cycle for FromSoftware
For the past decade or so, FromSoftware has really only put out open-world titles. While FromSoftware has always had a history of open-world game design, with evenKing’s Fieldallowing players to explore its environments at will, the developer really started to double down on this format after the release ofDark Soulsback in 2011. WhileDemon’s Soulsfeatured a hub areathat players would use to teleport to the game’s other areas,Dark Soulsfeatured one big interconnected world, joined together by a series of tunnels, pathways, and gates.
Over the years, FromSoftware has continued to expand on its open-world design, eventually culminating in last year’sElden Ring, the first FromSoftware game to feature a truly open-world format. Inspired byZelda: Breath of the Wild,Elden Ring’s open-worldemphasizes non-linear exploration far more than any previous FromSoft game ever has. For many fans,Elden Ring’s open-world is the pinnacle of FromSoftware’s game design, but for some fans, it just wasn’t their cup of tea.
Open-world games don’t appeal to all types of players. For some, an open-world design can often be a tad too daunting or overwhelming, and a more structured and linear approach is preferred. This is whereArmored Core 6comes in. Just like the rest of the franchise,Armored Core 6will follow a linear structure that sees players embark on a set number of missions, all hand-crafted with a set number of enemies, obstacles, and bosses. WhileArmored Core 6will still have plenty of replayability, with all of its different mech customization options allowing for very different playthroughs, players will largely share the same experience.
For some FromSoftware fans,Armored Core 6’s linear structure might feel like a step back for the developer afterElden Ring’s incredibly impressive open-world approach, but for some fans, it might be a return to the formula that they prefer. But moving forward, FromSoftware might want to ensure that both types of fans are catered for a bit more consistently.Armored Core 6could be the start of a brand-new trend for FromSoftware, where the developer releases a more linear game likeArmored Core, and then a more open-ended game likeDark SoulsorElden Ring, and then back to a linear title. This cycle would ensure that all players get a game they enjoy, hopefully at a fairly consistent rate.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubiconwill be available on June 23, 2025, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
