Following the reveal ofArmored Core 6: Fires of Rubiconat The Game Awards 2022, director Masaru Yamamura and FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki discussed the gameplay loop ofArmored Core 6for returning veterans and new players in an interview. The recently announcedArmored Coregame byFromSoftwaremarks the studio’s long-awaited return to mech combat.
Armored Core 6brings players to the distant planet of Rubicon 3, a world where corporations and organizations battle for control of a mysterious new substance that causes a planetary catastrophe.Sekiro: Shadows Die Twicelead designer Masaru Yamamura is leading development ofArmored Core 6at FromSoftware while studio president Hidetaka Miyazaki performs a consultant-like role for the project. Ever since the reveal at The Game Awards, FromSoftware fans have questioned the gameplay and mechanics forArmored Core 6. Yamamura and Miyazaki opened up about the mech title’s gameplay loop in a recent interview at IGN, which also confirms amultiplayer mode forArmored Core 6.
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When asked aboutArmored Core 6’sprogression system and gameplay loop, Yamamura and Miyazaki confirmed that players may complete missions to earn money and upgrade mechs with new parts. Yamamura confirms a wide variety of mech parts will be available inArmored Core 6. These parts may be switched out entirely when customizing a mech for a mission. Players may tune their mechs and weapons to fit a play style of their liking, and various parameters may be changed inArmored Core 6. Miyazaki describes these features as part ofArmored Core 6’sgeneral game cycle and “leveling up.”
The gameplay loop ofArmored Core 6should be familiar to fans of pastArmored Coregames according to Yamamura.Armored Core 6will be a mission-based game, and the reveal trailer includes shots that made the game appear as if it were to be open-world.Armored Core 6’smission-based structure is part of the game cycle described by Miyazaki, remaining consistent with prior games in the series.
Mech customization and performance tuning are part ofArmored Core’sidentity, so a sense of familiarity is welcomed by longtimeArmored Corefans. A mech becomes stronger with newer and more capable parts, allowing players to progress the main story and take on dangerous missions inArmored Core 6. Since Miyazaki describes mech upgrades as “leveling up” in traditional games, the feeling of becoming a stronger mech pilot should become apparent whenArmored Core 6is available next year.
Armored Core 6should take what’s best frompreviousArmored Coregameswhile modernizing controls and mechanics for a new audience. At the same time, those interested in tryingArmored Corefor the first time should consider looking into past games in the series and mech genre.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubiconlaunches in 2023 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
