Armored Core 6: Release date, trailers, gameplay & platforms

While it is a distinct departure from the Soulsborne games that developer FromSoftware is so famously known for, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is still absolutely something to look forward to. Considering it is the first mainline game since 2012, there is a great eagerness to play Armored Core 6 for both long-time fans and new players alike.

So, to find out everything we know so far about Armored Core 6, including the release date, trailers, gameplay, and what platforms you'll be able to play it on, make sure to carry on reading below.

• Get an in-depth look at the game with our Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon preview.

Is there an Armored Core 6 release date?

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Yes, Armored Core 6's release date has been confirmed as August 25, 2023, giving those excited for the mech game not much longer to wait.

This may come as a surprise to those who with up with FromSoftware's typical release cycles, as their games are usually released within the first or last three months of the year. That being said, we certainly won't be complaining about this being an earlier Summer release, as the heat will no doubt go well with the fires of Rubicon.

• We've also covered the Elden Ring Shadow Of The Erdtree DLC if you want our release date predictions.

Armored Core 6 trailers

The first Armored Core 6 trailer was revealed at the Game Awards in 2022. While it does not feature any actual gameplay or in-engine action, as always, it is a standout reveal of the game from FromSoftware.

The first section of the trailer focuses on the world itself - which could be called Rubicon if the title is anything to go by. We see blood-red flames engulf a planet, but then are cut to frozen wastes, implying that the fire is definitely something to fear.

The latter half of the trailer is, on the other hand, packed full of exciting mech and robot combat. Multiple different combat types were shown, with mechs wielding weapons, chucking bombs, and even throwing hands.

The next trailer for Armored Core 6 features plenty of gameplay, giving excited fans a lot to look over and study ahead of the game's August 2023 release.

In it, we see a mix of combat and exploration, highlighting what looks to be Souls-like combat synonymous with the developer, but with giant mechs this time instead of people with swords.

The following trailer for Armored Core 6 was the story trailer, which finally gave more of a hint toward what the narrative has to offer. 

This was a cinematic trailer that mostly featured scenes of a group of Armored Cores attacking an outpost to destroy a weapon. While encountering a much larger mech (likely a boss in the game) some of the ACs died, leaving one left to destroy the weapon in a sacrificial manner. 

The trailer ends with the camera panning upwards from a body wrapped in some sort of suit to an Armored Core, while a narrator speaks the line: "621…I’ll give you a reason to exist. Let’s get to work."

As the story trailer, this suggests we'll be playing as 621, and the game will take place after the events in the trailer. Whether the story will be as cryptic and vague as the Souls games is unknown, but this trailer certainly gives us a strong hook to jump into the world. 

Then we had the Gameplay Preview, an extended look at Armored Core 6 gameplay with some detailed narration. The preview video showcased several different types of missions, different enemies, and some of the boss fights we can expect in the full game.

• We chatted to the developers about Armored Core 6's Bloodborne influence, not going open world after Elden Ring and the best mech builds.

Armored Core 6 gameplay details

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While some might think that it would make sense for Armored Core 6 to take on gameplay similar to FromSoftware's titles, like how Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice adapted Tenchu into the Soulsborne formula, this might not be the case.

According to the game's director, Masaru Yamamura, Armored Core 6 will be familiar to fans of past titles in the series, with a focus on improving your mech with various parts. It also follows a stricter mission structure, as opposed to the open-world format that we saw in Elden Ring.

The perceived comparison to Sekiro extends beyond just adaptation and revival of an older franchise though, as Yamamura was the Lead Game Designer on the 2019 game. While Armored Core 6 will certainly be a bigger departure from the Souls formula than Sekiro, Yamamura's direction signals confidence in maintaining some key elements of the beloved franchise.

The latest gameplay trailer has further emphasised this fact, with glimpses of the Souls formula that many have come to know and adore. This mainly comes through in movements like dodges and boss encounters, but the introduction of ranged combat and the overall use of the mechs will definitely provide plenty of new ideas and experiences.

Armored Core 6 will also be the first FromSoftware game since Dark Souls 2 where Hidetaka Miyazaki isn't involved as director. While he did serve the role early in development, it was swiftly handed over to Yamamura with Miyazaki supposedly taking a consulting approach from that point forward.

• Make sure to check out this list for the best games like Zelda - featuring two FromSoftware games you might not have expected.

What platforms will Armored Core 6 be on?

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As stated in the reveal trailer, Armored Core 6 is set to release on the following platforms:

• PlayStation 5
• PlayStation 4
• Xbox Series X|S
• Xbox One
• Steam

It is somewhat surprising to see the game released on the previous console generations, but it is understandable considering how long the game has reportedly been in development.

While this could potentially indicate that the game won't be a top-of-the-line graphical powerhouse, that is not exactly something FromSoftware is known for in their games. We are sure that the game will still look fantastic though, and hopefully, this means it might perform well from a framerate perspective too.

So, that's everything we currently know about Armored Core 6, giving you all of the gameplay information and trailers that have been released so far.

If you want to stay up to date with all of the latest news and guides for Armored Core 6, make sure that you check out our dedicated game page for more.