Following the reveal of Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon at The Game Awards 2022, director Masaru Yamamura and FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki discussed the gameplay loop of Armored Core 6 for returning veterans and new players in an interview. The recently announced Armored Core game by FromSoftware marks the studio's long-awaited return to mech combat.

Armored Core 6 brings players to the distant planet of Rubicon 3, a world where corporations and organizations battle for control of a mysterious new substance that causes a planetary catastrophe. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice lead designer Masaru Yamamura is leading development of Armored Core 6 at FromSoftware while studio president Hidetaka Miyazaki performs a consultant-like role for the project. Ever since the reveal at The Game Awards, FromSoftware fans have questioned the gameplay and mechanics for Armored Core 6. Yamamura and Miyazaki opened up about the mech title's gameplay loop in a recent interview at IGN, which also confirms a multiplayer mode for Armored Core 6.

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When asked about Armored Core 6's progression system and gameplay loop, Yamamura and Miyazaki confirmed that players may complete missions to earn money and upgrade mechs with new parts. Yamamura confirms a wide variety of mech parts will be available in Armored Core 6. These parts may be switched out entirely when customizing a mech for a mission. Players may tune their mechs and weapons to fit a play style of their liking, and various parameters may be changed in Armored Core 6. Miyazaki describes these features as part of Armored Core 6's general game cycle and "leveling up."

Armored Core Fires of Rubicon

The gameplay loop of Armored Core 6 should be familiar to fans of past Armored Core games according to Yamamura. Armored Core 6 will be a mission-based game, and the reveal trailer includes shots that made the game appear as if it were to be open-world. Armored Core 6's mission-based structure is part of the game cycle described by Miyazaki, remaining consistent with prior games in the series.

Mech customization and performance tuning are part of Armored Core's identity, so a sense of familiarity is welcomed by longtime Armored Core fans. A mech becomes stronger with newer and more capable parts, allowing players to progress the main story and take on dangerous missions in Armored Core 6. Since Miyazaki describes mech upgrades as "leveling up" in traditional games, the feeling of becoming a stronger mech pilot should become apparent when Armored Core 6 is available next year.

Armored Core 6 should take what's best from previous Armored Core games while modernizing controls and mechanics for a new audience. At the same time, those interested in trying Armored Core for the first time should consider looking into past games in the series and mech genre.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon launches in 2023 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

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Source: IGN