| |
| ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON | |
| Japanese name | アーマード・コアⅥ ファイアーズオブルビコン |
| Publisher(s) | Japan: FromSoftware Inc.,[1][2] International: Bandai Namco[1] |
| Composer(s) | Kota Hoshino[3] |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Steam |
| Release date | August 24, 2023[1] |
| Mode(s) | Singleplayer, Multiplayer[4] |
ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON is the 16th installment of FromSoftware's Armored Core franchise. It is published in Japan by FromSoftware and internationally by Bandai Namco,[2] and was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, and Steam on August 24, 2023.[5] It features a brand-new setting and story with no direct links to previous games.[4]
The plot is that in the past, the discovery of a highly valuable substance on the planet Rubicon 3 led to an interstellar catastrophe, and decades later, that substance, "Coral" resurfaces on the planet, leading numerous factions to wrestle for control. The player assumes the role of Augmented Human C4-621, an independent mercenary infiltrating Rubicon 3 to profit from the conflict that would come to be known as the "Coral War."
The game has a provisional rating of PEGI 16,[6] and retails for $59.99.
Plot[]
A mysterious new substance called "Coral" was discovered on the remote planet, Rubicon 3. As an energy source, this substance was expected to dramatically advance humanity’s technological and communications capabilities. Instead, it caused a catastrophe that engulfed the planet and the surrounding stars in flames and storms, forming a Burning Star System.[7] Almost half a century later, Coral has resurfaced on Rubicon 3, a planet now contaminated and sealed off by the catastrophe. Extra-terrestrial corporations and resistance groups fight over control of the substance. The player infiltrates Rubicon as an independent mercenary and finds themselves in a struggle over the substance with the corporations and other factions.[7] |
Characters and factions[]
Characters[]
- Ayre
- Chartreuse
- "Chatty" Stick
- "Cinder" Carla
- G1 Michigan
- G2 Nile
- G3 Wu Huahai
- G4 Volta
- G5 Iguazu
- G6 Red
- G7 Hakra
- Handler Walter
- "Honest" Brute
- Index Dunham
- "Invincible" Rummy
- Kate Markson
- King
- Little Ziyi
- Middle Flatwell
- Monkey Gordo
- Nosaac
- "Raven" (Augmented Human C4-621): An independent mercenary AC pilot who goes by the borrowed callsign "Raven."
- Raven (original): The original owner of the callsign "Raven."
- Raven's Operator
- Ring Freddie
- Rokumonsen
- Sulla
- Thomas Kirk
- Thumb Dolmayan
- V.I Freud
- V.II Snail
- V.III O'Keeffe
- V.IV Rusty
- V.V Hawkins
- V.VI Maeterlinck
- V.VII Swinburne
- V.VIII Pater
Factions[]
Corporations[]
Major Corporations[]
Other Corporations[]
Political Organizations[]
Resistance[]
Government[]
Other Organizations[]
Enemy list[]
- BAWS Guard Mech
- Tetrapod MT
- Subject Guard MT
- BAWS MT
- TOYBOX Mech
- Ghost
- AAP07 BALTEUS
- AAP07A ARQUEBUS BALTEUS
- AA22: HEAVY CAVALRY
- AH12: HC HELICOPTER
- EB-0309 STRIDER
- EC-0804 SMART CLEANER
- AAS02: CATAPHRACT
- AAS03: EKDROMOI
- HA-T-102 JUGGERNAUT
- IB-01: CEL 240
- IA-02: ICE WORM
- IA-13: SEA SPIDER
- AA18: LIGHT CAVALRY
- HELIANTHUS
Features[]
Per the game's Steam page, supported languages are as follows:[1]
- Interface and subtitles: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese Brazil, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish - Latin America, Traditional Chinese
- Full audio: English, Japanese
Gameplay[]
Like previous titles, there will be an emphasis on player mecha customizability allowing high levels of player freedom and high-speed combat. Combat itself takes place through a mission-based structure, focuses on tough and intense mecha battles, and will feature dynamic and intense boss battles that only the mecha genre can offer. Enemies will be aggressive and violent, and the game is designed expecting player playstyle to be that as well.[1][4] Offline content includes a singleplayer-only story mode whereas an online arena will be implemented for PvP.[8]
The gameplay loop is described by the game's director Masaru Yamamura as such:[4]
The general game cycle is to clear missions and you earn money and use money to buy more expensive weapons and parts for your mech. And also within that, you are tuning these parts and you're tuning the weapons and tuning your mech to suit your play style, changing parameters, changing the performance of various parts to suit the way you want to approach each mission in each battle.[4] |
The game's combat speed has been described as being between the Armored Core 3 era and the Armored Core V era.[9][10]
In terms of new mechanics, a posture system encouraging aggressive, action-oriented fighting (later called "Stagger") has been implemented wherein continuous attacks against even the strongest enemies can break their posture and inflict a critical hit.[4] There will also be an option for limited AP recovery during missions.[10]
Returning mechanics include an Assault Armor equivalent.[10]
Besides combat, player emblems will also be exchangeable online with other players.[8]
Menu[]
Arranged according to in-game order:
- Garage[11]
- AC Design[11]
- Assembly - In-game description: Modify assembly of AC parts.[11]
- Paint - In-game description: Change AC color scheme.[11]
- Decals - In-game description: Change AC decal settings.[11]
- Image Editor - In-game description: Create images for use as decals or pilot emblems.[11]
- AC Data - In-game description: Manage AC assemblies, appearance settings, and other AC data.[11]
- Parts shop[11]
- OS Tuning - In-game description: Apply OS upgrades to your AC.
- Arena - In-game description: Enter the "Arena" Combat aptitude evaluation program.
- Nest - In-game description: Enter the "Nest" online battle simulator.
- CUSTOM MATCH
- Match History
- Sortie - In-game description: Sorties on missions, or hone your skills using mercenary support simulators[11]
- AC Design[11]
Development[]
According to producer Yasunori Ogura, the game was first considered around 2017 then began development in 2018. Hidetaka Miyazaki and others served as initial directors when the project was in early prototyping, then Masaru Yamamura became director once a clearer vision for the game was reached.[10] It took a decade to start producing another Armored Core since Armored Core: Verdict Day because FromSoftware did not have the resources at the time to create one between all its concurrent projects.[8]
It was officially announced at The Game Awards 2022 (December 9, 2022) through a reveal trailer followed by numerous related press content and an IGN interview with Miyazaki and Yamamura.
On February 2023, the Taipei Game Show 2023 had an interview with Ogura wherein plans for offline content, online arenas, and emblem-making were detailed.
On March 2023, product pages on GameStop and BestBuy indicated that the game would retail for $59.99.[12][13][14][15]
The first gameplay trailer was released across social media in both English and Japanese on April 27, 2023.[16][17] In addition to gameplay, also revealed were tidbits of the story, the global release date (August 25, 2023), and purchase options. Coinciding with this were several interviews expounding on the game's systems such as Stagger and Assault Boost.[9][10][18]
Four minutes of in-engine gameplay footage were shown on June 15, 2023 by various outlets such as IGN Japan.[19]
Life-size Armored Core prop at SDCC2023
On July 2023, the game was featured at San Diego Comic Con 2023 and was a sponsor for a press party at the event.[20] The venue included a life-size Armored Core prop by Volpin Props[21] as well as a test for atendees, and a CG story trailer was released online.[22] Days later came a wave of gameplay previews and articles from the likes of Bandai Namco,[23] publications such as Forbes,[24][25] and content creators like Iron Pineapple[26] and VaatiVidya.[27] The Garage, HUD, main menu, and full missions were shown to the public for the first time. It was also announced earlier in the month that multiple game trials would be held in Japan from late July to August; stickers and posters would be freebies.[28]
A PlayStation Japan stream in mid-August 2023 showed new details such as PVP multiplayer, a new mission from Chapter 3, and for the first in Armored Core history, a dedicated in-game Photo Mode.[29] A showcase by Bandai Namco Entertainment America followed shortly afterwards with more details on lore, mission gameplay, and PVP.[30] Additional content unveiled that day include a 15-second Japanese advertisement by FromSoftware,[31] and an official Xbox sweepstake for a limited edition bundle containing a non-functional art piece.[32][33]
FromSoftware website description[]
パーツを組み替えて作り出したオリジナルメカで様々なミッションを遂行するアクションゲーム「ARMORED CORE」シリーズ。そのシリーズ最新作にしてナンバリングでもある「ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON」が、長き沈黙を経ていよいよ登場します。 「ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON」は、アセンブルした自分だけのオリジナルメカを操り、立体的で緩急のあるステージを三次元立体機動で自由に駆け巡ることができます。また射撃と近接戦闘を駆使したダイナミックな動きで、難局に挑み、敵を圧倒するなど、メカだからこそ実現できる多彩なアクションをお楽しみいただけます。[5] |
Steam description[]
Pre-December 12, 2022:
Dynamic, Fast-Paced Mech Action Based on the knowledge gained during joint development of their recent titles, Bandai Namco Entertainment and FromSoftware seek to deliver a new action game. By combining FromSoftware’s longstanding expertise in mech games and their signature robust gameplay, ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON will be a new action experience. In ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON, players will assemble and pilot their own mech with 3D maneuverability to move freely through three dimensional fast-paced missions. Take on difficult challenges and overwhelm your enemies with dynamic movements that make full use of ranged and melee combat. Players can enjoy a variety of actions that can only be truly realized with mechs. Story Overview Almost half a century later, the same substance resurfaced on Rubicon 3, a planet now contaminated and sealed off by the catastrophe. Extra-terrestrial corporations and resistance groups fight over control of the substance. The player infiltrates Rubicon as an independent mercenary and finds themself in a struggle over the substance with the corporations and other factions. Development Team |
December 12, 2022-April 27, 2023:
In ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON, players will assemble and pilot their own mech with 3D maneuverability to move freely through three dimensional fast-paced missions. Take on difficult challenges and overwhelm your enemies with dynamic movements that make full use of ranged and melee combat. Players can enjoy a variety of actions that can only be truly realized with mechs.[1] |
This description is repeated on the game's pages on the US Microsoft Store[34] and PlayStation Store.[35]
April 27, 2023-onwards:
PRE-PURCHASE OFFER Pre-order now to receive the following bonus content:
DIGITAL DELUXE EDITION ABOUT THIS GAME Dynamic, Omni-directional Battles Customized Parts for Individual Battle Styles Deploy a wide variety of offensive and defensive tactics at close and long range to take down powerful enemy bosses.[1] |
System Requirements[]
The minimum were revealed along with the first gameplay trailer:
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: Intel Core i5-8600K or AMD Ryzen 3 3300X
- Memory: 12 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960, 4 GB or AMD Radeon RX 480, 4 GB or Intel Arc A380, 6 GB
- DirectX: Version 12
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 65 GB available space
Purchase options[]
- Standard Edition ($59.99)
- Pre-Order bonuses: "MELANDER C3 G13 Special Customization 'TENDERFOOT'"[1]
- Digital Deluxe Edition ($69.99): Includes exclusive digital artbook and original soundtrack[1]
Gallery[]
Reveal Trailer[]
From December 2022 materials
Gameplay Trailer[]
From April 2023 materials
Press event goods[]
From a 2023 pre-release press event
Steam Trading Cards[]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- The ten-year period between its 2023 release date and the last Armored Core release, Armored Core: Verdict Day marks the longest gap between the franchise's releases. The previous longest was the two years between Armored Core: Last Raven Portable and Armored Core V.
- With the Steam version, this is the first Armored Core game to have an official PC release.
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 https://store.steampowered.com/app/1888160/ARMORED_CORE_VI_FIRES_OF_RUBICON/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://www.famitsu.com/news/202212/09285815.html
- ↑ "Despite the intense action, FromSoftware wants Armored Core 6 to have a 'dark old sci-fi feel' with a 'sense of loneliness and nostalgia'" by PC Gamer
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 https://www.ign.com/articles/armored-core-6-interview
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 https://www.armoredcore.net/
- ↑ ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON – Reveal Trailer uploaded by BANDAI NAMCO Europe
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 https://www.bandainamcoent.com/news/armored-core-vi-fires-of-rubicon-global-launch-august-25-2023 - Official Bandai Namco press release (April 27, 2023)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 BNE FUN LIVE 2023 – ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON Special – Interview uploaded by Bandai Namco Entertainment Southeast Asia
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 https://blog.playstation.com/2023/04/27/armored-core-vi-fires-of-rubicon-launches-august-25--new-gameplay-details/
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 【AC6】『アーマードコア6』山村D＆小倉Pロングインタビュー。シリーズの新たな一歩を飾る最新作、スリリングな戦闘を実現するゲームシステムの詳細が明らかに！ by Famitsu
- ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 "Armored Core VI - Early Hands-On Gameplay" by Cacophanus
- ↑ https://www.gamestop.com/video-games/products/armored-core-vi-fires-of-rubicon/10125708.html
- ↑ https://www.bestbuy.com/site/armored-core-vi-fires-of-rubicon-playstation-4/6537273.p?skuId=6537273
- ↑ https://www.bestbuy.com/site/armored-core-vi-fires-of-rubicon-playstation-5/6537271.p?skuId=6537271
- ↑ https://www.bestbuy.com/site/armored-core-vi-fires-of-rubicon-xbox-series-x/6537280.p?skuId=6537280
- ↑ ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON ゲームプレイトレーラー【2023.4】- Gameplay trailer uploaded by FromSoftware, Inc.
- ↑ ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON — Gameplay Trailer uploaded by Bandai Namco Entertainment America
- ↑ "Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon: l'intervista esclusiva a Masaru Yamamura e Yasunori Ogura" by Multiplayer.it
- ↑ "『ARMORED CORE VI』4分の実機プレイ映像" by IGN Japan
- ↑ "Check out IGN's SDCC Party sponsored by Armored Core VI FIRES OF RUBICON. #SDCC" by IGN
- ↑ Volpin Props. [volpinprops]. (2023, July 21). Our #ARMOREDCORE replica: so large we had to clear off half the studio floor to check parts fitment before shipping! (Pic taken from atop a 10' ladder) [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/volpinprops/status/1682128283620593664
- ↑ "ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON — Story Trailer" by Bandai Namco Entertainment America
- ↑ "ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON – Gameplay Preview" by Bandai Namco Entertainment America
- ↑ "'Armored Core VI' Hands-On Impressions From Someone Who Has Played And Finished Every Game In The Series" by Forbes
- ↑ "Masaru Yamamura And Yasunori Ogura On Staying True To The Legacy Of 'Armored Core'" by Forbes
- ↑ "I played Armored Core 6... my thoughts" by Iron Pineapple
- ↑ "I played Armored Core 6. It's incredible." by VaatiVidya
- ↑ https://www.armoredcore.net/article/230714_1.html
- ↑ "PLAY! PLAY! PLAY!『ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON』 SPECIAL BRIEFING" by PlayStation Japan
- ↑ "ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON Showcase" by Bandai Namco Entertainment America
- ↑ "ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON TVCM（発売編）【2023.8】" by FromSoftware, Inc.
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Xbox/status/1692552295127318718
- ↑ https://rules.xboxpromotions.com/ArmoredCore
- ↑ https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/armored-core-vi-fires-of-rubicon/9p4sv7r7n3hw
- ↑ https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10001815
Related pages[]
- ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON Credits
- ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON Arena
- ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON Endings
- ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON In-game Tips
- ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON Loadable preset AC data
- ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON New Game+ differences
- ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON (soundtrack)
- ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON Patch Notes
- Enemies in ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON
- Emblems in ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON
- Missions in ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON
- Parts in ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON
External Links[]
- ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON OFFICIAL SITE (Japanese) by FromSoftware
- ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON OFFICIAL SITE by Bandai Namco
- Official Bandai Namco webpage
- Official Microsoft Store (US) product page
- Official PlayStation Store (US) product page
- Official Steam product page
- Official Instagram page
- Official Twitter page
- Press assets from Bandai Namco
Speculation[]
The following information is "gray area" content — it may not be completely factual, and/or falls under YMMV territory.