Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is a mecha-based vehicular combat game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The first entry in the Armored Core series since Armored Core: Verdict Day (2013), it was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on August 25, 2023. It is the first in the series to be released for Windows. Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon received positive reviews, becoming the highest-rated installment of the franchise to date.

Gameplay
The gameplay in Armored Core VI emphasizes mecha-based vehicular combat. Players in this game take on the role of expert pilots in control of strong mechs known as Armored Cores. The huge flexibility for modification of these mechs with the use of various parts allows players to enhance and sharpen their capabilities.

The option for players to arm their mechs with a range of weaponry is a standout aspect of the game. One on each arm and two on the mech's back are available slots for these weapons. The players' broad arsenals grant users strategic freedom as they participate in combat.

The arena concept from the game's predecessors remains in place and appears through a "combat aptitude evaluation program." Players can put their talents to the test and compete with other players in this mode. The in-game currency, credits, is awarded to players that complete missions successfully. The amount of credits earned is influenced by the objectives achieved during these missions, with potential deductions for incomplete goals.

Armored Core VI did get rid of the debt system from earlier games in the series, which caused players to lose money as tasks fail. This time, players have the ability to attempt missions as many times as they want without caring concerned wasting currency. Without the extra weight of financial consequences, this pushes players to improve their performance and anticipate more.

Development
In September 2016, FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki mentioned that a new entry in the Armored Core series was in early development. In January 2022, the development of a potential new installment of the Armored Core series was leaked due to a focus test. The game was formally announced at The Game Awards 2022 in December. Armored Core VI is being directed by Masaru Yamamura, his debut in the role after being a lead game designer on Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. He took over from Miyazaki, who led development initially. Yasunori Ogura will serve as the game's producer. According to Ogura, many FromSoftware staff members, including himself and Miyazaki, wanted to develop a new entry in the series, but had to wait in order to properly allocate resources into the project. In 2018, the game entered prototyping, with Yamamura taking over as director once the gameplay was set in stone. Kota Hoshino served as the lead composer of the game. During development, Hoshino was given keywords by Yamamura in order to set the game's tone and evoke a "sense of loneliness and nostalgia." Hoshino was given freedom when it came to composition based on the keywords, with tracks being adjusted according to the game's flow. Additional music was composed by Takashi Onodera and Shoi Miyazawa.