FromSoftware returned to the Armored Core series after fifteen years with Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon. It looks like the studio’s gamble paid off as the latest installment becomes the best-selling game from the long-running mecha franchise.
Many were surprised at FromSoftware’s decision to develop a Mecha-Action game series after spending the last decade and a half working on the Souls and Souls-like titles. Experts expected the studio would capitalize on the success of Elden Ring to launch another Souls-like title. However, it does seem that FromSoftware made the right call in releasing Armored Core 6 just a year after Elden Ring.
Fires of Rubicon voice actor Ryo Shimokawa revealed in a live stream that the recently released Armored Core 6 is now the best-selling game in the series. According to Shimokawa, “Armored Core 6 has sold 2.8 million copies worldwide.”
ペイター下川涼氏
「アーマードコア6、全世界280万本くらいだそうです」ラスティ加瀬康之氏
「外国版にも日本語音声入ってて俺らの声聞いてる人いるらしい」— j.f.h (@j7w2mettaur_dx) October 14, 2023
Yasuyuki Kase, the voice actor for Rusty in Armored Core 6, shared additional information about the popularity of the game. The actor revealed during the livestream that the Japanese dubbing was also included in the global release. “The foreign version also includes Japanese audio, so it seems like there are people who can hear our voices,” Yasuyuki said.
Getting deeper into the numbers, Fires of Rubicon sold over 1.2 million units on Steam alone. The rest is split between the PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Being released on two generations of consoles may have contributed to the success of the game.
While Armored Core 6, on its own, would be a successful title for any studio, it pales in comparison to Elden Ring. FromSoftware’s most recent Souls-like title shipped over 13.4 million copies in just its first month. The ARPG has sold over 20 million copies after just one year, making it Bandai Namco’s best-selling game of all time.
Fires of Rubicon does highlight the interest in FromSoftware games. Armored Core is one of the more niche games being that it is a mecha-based vehicular combat title. The success of Armored Core 6 may have more to do with FromSoftware’s mainstream popularity rather than nostalgia as most of the current generation gamers were too young to play the previous titles.
The choice to release Armored Core 6 after Elden Ring also helps FromSoftware space out its Souls-like titles. The studio now has time to develop the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion while still generating revenue with Armored Core. The upcoming DLC is expected to arrive early next year around the second anniversary of Elden Ring.
With the success of Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, it will be interesting to see if FromSoftware works on more mecha-based titles in the future. We do expect the studio to release at least one DLC for Armored Core 6 sometime in the next year.
