Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is touted as the next major title from FromSoftware. Bandai Namco revealed more details about the upcoming game in an 18-minute interview with one of the game’s producers.
Bandai Namco recently hosted the BNE Fun Live event, a special broadcast program running in parallel with the Taipei Game Show. Armored Core 6 game producer Yasunori Ogura was on-hand to discuss new details about the game including its story, core elements, development, and mech customization.
During the interview (translated by Gematsu), Ogura revealed that the sixth mainline title for the series is not connected to the previous games. New players do not need to play the previous titles to appreciate the upcoming mecha game.
“In terms of actual storyline, there is no direct connection between V and this latest title, which means there is no need to have played previous titles in the series,” the producer said. Ogura adds that Armored Core 6 does retain some gameplay elements from previous titles in the series, including mecha customization.
The fundamental concept at the heart of the Armored Core series, involving the free assembly and customization of parts to create your own mech, remains very much a part of this title,” Ogura explains.
“We have prioritized this aspect of the series throughout the development process, and combined this system with the know-how and experience our teams have acquired in the development of FromSoftware’s other acclaimed titles to produce a brand-new Armored Core action game that we believe will satisfy our users.”
Speaking of mecha customization, Ogura revealed that it is the “element of the game with the most depth.” According to the producer, it may be a complex system to master for new players as it is very detailed. However, FromSoftware has implemented certain measures “to help make assembly and customization more intuitive and logical than it has been in the past.”
FromSoftware is known to make punishing titles, even for veteran players of its Soulslike games. The studio is looking to keep the status quo with Fires of Rubicon and the difficulty will be related to the player’s mastery of the mecha customization.
“Our approach to the issue of difficulty level in Armored Core 6 is slightly different to other titles, in that the most distinctive feature of the Armored Core series is the combination of parts to customize the player’s mech,” Ogura shared. “As this lies at the title’s core, it is really the adjustment of these parts that is the key to overcoming difficulties within the game.”
The interview also discussed the difficulty of the boss battles which FromSoftware said is central to the Armored Core 6 experience. Ogura explains that the boss battles will still be similar to other FromSoftware titles in which players need to learn attack patterns and how to effectively take advantage of openings.
“Boss battles in FromSoftware games often require close observation of enemy movements, to catch that little tell so you know just when to attack, and how best to make your move,” the producer said. “That’s certainly the case again in this title, so I am confident that our users will find the boss battles extremely enjoyable.”
FromSoftware fans should be happy with what was revealed in the interview. We do expect the studio to pull out the big guns with Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon as it looks to emulate the success of Elden Ring.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon will be landing on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S sometime in 2023.
