Elden Ring is in the conversation of the best game of all time. It has the hardware to prove and it passes the eyetest and the actual gameplay experience. Yet, for all the accolades, it isn’t perfect. The game’s performance on gaming desktops, especially in terms of optimization at launch, had plenty of room for improvement, which brings us to its close relative, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon.
The anticipation for Armored Core 6 is nothing short of frenzied. With the game’s release date closing in, fans eagerly look forward to the next chapter in FromSoftware’s return to its iconic mecha series – a former bread and butter. The pressure mounts given the success of Elden Ring. But, if we go by the initial reactions, the PC version of Armored Core 6 might just deliver on its promises.
First, the performance: FightinCowboy, a renowned content creator who recently took part in a surprisingly expansive Armored Core 6 PvP stream, spoke quite favorably about the game’s optimization. He boldly declared, “The game runs infinitely better than [Elden Ring]. I’ve played a ton on Steam Deck with no issues.
Elden Ring, despite the critical acclaim and best-seller status, had its share of performance issues on the PC at launch, so such a declaration is a huge sigh of relief for many fans.
While the past year had seen less than optimal ports like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and The Last of Us Part 1, this kind of feedback for Armored Core 6 suggests a reversal of fortunes. Even on the Steam Deck, a handheld PC, FightinCowboy reportedly achieved a smooth 50FPS on high graphics settings. The fact that the game is on the same engine as Elden Ring and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, yet seems to outperform them, particularly has modders interested.
With the knowledge and experience from modding Elden Ring, it’s thrilling to consider the potential modifications and tweaks they could bring to Armored Core 6 – think of actual Gundam robots being in the game.
But what about the gameplay? Given that the lead game designer from Sekiro is at the helm of AC6, expectations are a lot higher than expected. After all, Sekiro’s engaging gameplay mechanics had players coming back for more even years after its release. If Armored Core 6 can capture even a fraction of Sekiro’s magic, we’re all in for a treat.
The essence of Armored Core has always been the intricate dance between player-customized mechs. Players have fond memories of like Matthias in Armored Core 2, where discovering both your mech’s and your opponent’s weaknesses as keys to victory. Given the consistent brilliance of boss designs in Sekiro, it’s exciting to ponder the level of strategies and intricacies that the 1v1 fights in Armored Core 6 could potentially bring.
Not everyone venturing into Armored Core 6 is a series veteran. Some, who skipped Elden Ring and Sekiro, are stepping into FromSoftware’s world for the first time, drawn by the allure of customizable mecha. There’s a sentiment within the industry about the glaring lack of mecha games that offer to customization.
While there have been a handful of Battletech-style games, they don’t quench the thirst for more agile, airborne mechs equipped with laser swords and the like.
If it succeeds, Armored Core 6 could usher in a new era of mecha games for PC gamers, particularly if Bandai Namco, owners of the Gundam franchise, realizes the untapped potential of this genre.
Despite the early praise, some questions still linger, specifically speculations based on FromSoftware’s history with DirectX 12 in Elden Ring. While the developer’s early experimentation with DX12 might not have been perfect, it’s clear they’ve come a long way since.
Ultimately, the initial buzz around Armored Core 6 is positive. From its performance to gameplay, there’s a lot for us to look forward to. Whether you’re a seasoned fan or someone new looking for quality mecha action on PC, Armored Core 6 appears poised to deliver.
As for Elden Ring, the game’s director, Hidetaka Miyazaki, recently hinted at a possible sequel.
