Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon was leaked way before it was officially announced, but now we have tons of legit information, and even a release date -- one that might shock you.
FromSoftware’s new Armored Core game is directed by none other than Hidetaka Miyazaki. The first glimpse of this new Armored Core came via a Resetera post that’s blew up at the time, detailing a consumer survey that revealed screenshots, a synopsis of the game and some gameplay features. But now we have so much more.
Before we dive in, this title still has time to launch, so keep in mind our frequently updated lists of best PC games and best PC Game Pass games as well as our best Xbox Series X games and best PS5 games. If you haven't purchased the latest-gen of consoles, we highly recommend checking out our Xbox Series X|PS5 reviews. And if you're more into the imaginative play, see our best virtual tabletop software and DND tips pages.
Now, here’s everything we know about Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, from the release date and story to the gameplay and PC requirements.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon release date
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon has been officially confirmed for a 2023 release -- not only that, but it's launching August 25. That's mere months away.
FromSoftware is set to release Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon on Xbox Series X, PS5, PC, and last gen consoles like the PS4 and Xbox One.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon story
We have a general story overview that Bandai posted on their site for Armored Core 6. It reads:
"A mysterious new substance was discovered on the remote planet, Rubicon 3. As an energy source, this substance was expected to dramatically advance humanity’s technological and communication capabilities. Instead, it caused a catastrophe that submerged the planet and surrounding stars in flames and storms, forming a Burning Star System.
Almost half a century later, the same substance has resurfaced on Rubicon 3, a planet now contaminated and sealed-off as a result of the catastrophe.
Extra-terrestrial corporations and resistance groups fight for 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."
This actually isn't too far off from the leak that was discussed in the Resetera post. The leak said that the game revolves around a substance known as Melange that has the potential to advance human society. Funnily enough, the substance in Dune that we know as spice is also referred to as Melange.
We don't know what the substance is called officially yet.
The alleged leak features this description: “In the past, [Melange] caused a cosmic catastrophe on planet Bashtar that engulfed the surrounding star systems, and eventually its very existence was lost. Decades later, the Melange reaction was confirmed again on planet Bashtar. In search of the unknown substance that should have been lost, various speculations begin to swirl. Various parties are getting involved; The government, corporations, cultists, and unknown mercenaries… The protagonist is one of them.”
Of course we know that the name Bashtar is inaccurate. The planet is called Rubicon 3, but it's possible Bashtar was a code name, since the title of the game is tied to the planet.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon gameplay
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon isn't that much different from the rest of the games in the series in that it's a third-person mech melee-shooter.
We'll be able to create mechs from a wide range of parts and weaponry. There will be wide, open 3-dimensional arenas to battle in. You'll be able to optimize your mech for melee and ranged combat and outfit yourself best for omni-directional battles.
Like any FromSoftware game, epic boss battles are confirmed. It's unclear if we're going to get the same brutal experience as a Soulsborne game, but for the sake of mecha fans, I hope not.
One thing I have noticed in the trailers is that the combat doesn't seem as chaotic as I remember Armored Core being, which is actually a good thing. If there's more room for dodging and blocking attacks instead of wishing to gods that your enemies miss, that'd be great.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon PC requirements
We have the official minimum requirements to run Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon.
The minimum specs include an Intel Core i5-8600K or AMD Ryzen 3 3300X CPU, 12GB of RAM, and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 4GB or AMD Radeon RX 480 4GB or Intel Arc A380 6GB GPU.
The best cheap gaming laptops soar over that, so if you’ve recently purchased one or need one, you’ll be fine.
Outlook
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is coming way sooner than any of us could have imagined and we are so hyped. We know almost everything there is to know right now apart from just playing the game itself, so it's likely we won't get too much more info until the week of release. Typically, companies put out a release day trailer to promote the game, so stay tuned for that.
