FromSoftware is taking a break from action RPGs like Souls and returning to mechs.

At the Taipei Games Show 2023, Yasunori Ogura, producer of Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, gave a wide-ranging interview about the game, which he promises will be as challenging and rewarding as we’ve come to expect from the Japanese studio’s previous games (Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Souls series…). Hidetaka Miyazaki said something similar last year when the game was announced. Ogura mentioned, for example, that the concepts for the newcomers to the franchise had been lightened up a bit; he also said the story, which he described as strictly single-player, and that online modes were planned, and that there would be a balance between customizability and an aggressive, dynamic fighting style. Oh, and they have more money to develop. So much for the success of Elden Ring!

“The freedom to spend more on the game’s development and resources. We were determined to take advantage of FromSoftware’s experience and know-how to establish independence for the player regarding what can be done with game controls and the customization that lies at the series’ core. That was the critical point we focused on. When you play the game, you will see how changing parts affects the action elements. The action and customization elements work symbiotically, which is the most important thing. [Customization] is the game element with the most depth; for many fans, it is the most enjoyable. Seen from the perspective of new users, though, it is a very intricate and complex system.

This time, we have put several new measures in place to help make assembly and customization more intuitive and logical than before. Because of the use of mechs, the player and enemy characters have highly dynamic movements. As robots, their dynamism is only matched by the aggressiveness of their movement. Attack distance, in particular, frequently changes from close range to far, then from far back to close again. In terms of an 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,” Ogura said.

Armored Core V came out in 2012, and its sequel was released a year later. Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Source: PCGamer