Although FromSoftware’s latest release,Elden Ring’sShadow of the ErdtreeDLC, quite possibly represents thepinnacle of the Soulslike genre so far, I’d like the studio’s next release to be a follow-up toArmored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, not another Soulslike. Starting with the release ofDemon’s Soulsin 2009, FromSoftware has become best known for kickstarting the entire Soulslike genre, with plenty of other developers now trying to emulate the design and success of games likeDark Souls. Despite that success, though, I’d prefer for FromSoft to take a break from its signature genre.
Of course, while theSoulsgames,Bloodborne,Elden Ring, and their various DLCs are what FromSoft is best known for, the studio’s modern catalog of games isn’t entirely made up of Soulslikes. Perhaps the studio’s most notable non-Soulslike release,Sekiro: Shadow Die Twice, came out in 2019, in between the end of theDark Soulsseries and the later release ofElden Ring, and a year before that, the studio also released a relatively obscure VR title,Déraciné. What I really want to see FromSoftware expand on, though, is2023’sArmored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon.
Don’t Get Your Hopes Up For Elden Ring 2, Despite Miyazaki Saying It’s Possible
Elden Ring Director Hidetaka Miyazaki has acknowledged the possibility of an Elden Ring 2, but it is still best to restrain any excitement.
FromSoft’s Next Release Should Be A Follow-Up To Armored Core 6
FromSoftware Should Take A Break From Soulslikes
While I’m not a longtime fan ofArmored Core-Fires of Rubiconbeing the only game in the series that I’ve actually played -I think it would be a missed opportunity for FromSoft to not give the game an expansion or sequelof some kind before moving on to another Soulslike, whether it’s a prospectiveElden Ring 2or something else entirely. The firstArmored Coregame to be released since 2013’sArmored Core: Verdict Day,Fires of Rubiconbenefited greatly from FromSoft’s stellar reputation, easily becoming the best-selling and most well-known game in the series.
Unlike its predecessors, though,Armored Core 6is currently a standalone product, with no expansions, DLCs, or sequelshaving been released or even teased since the game’s initial launch. With FromSoftware seemingly focusing onShadow of the Erdtreefor 2024, and no current hints towards the studio’s next major project, it’s entirely possible thatAC6’s post-launch support won’t go beyond the few free updates that the game has already received - which would be a shame for the game that introducedArmored Core, and in some ways the mecha genre as a whole, to a wider audience.
While I don’t thinkArmored Core 6is unfinished in its current state, I do know that there is some sentiment from older fans of the series that the game could do with more mech parts, a wider variety of weapons, and more levels, similar in scope to what a DLC for aSoulsgame might add. In keeping with series tradition, the game could even get a direct sequel -VerdictDay, released in 2013, for example, was a sequel toArmored Core 5, a pattern that holds true for every game in the series before it as well.
Every Ending In Armored Core 6 Explained (In Detail)
The split paths of Armored Core 6 can lead to drastically different endings, making the otherwise straightforward narrative a bit harder to follow.
How Should An Armored Core 6 Expansion Work?
Following Series Tradition Might Not Be The Best Idea For AC6
Personally, though, I’m not sure if a standalone sequel, like what the series has traditionally released, would fare quite as well now, especially since other games that previously followed a similar model, likeMonster HunterandPokémon, have near-universally moved on to releasing DLC expansions instead. In keeping with that change, and with FromSoft’s own established post-launch release patterns for other games, I think an expansion forArmored Core 6would probably be the best move.
To be fair, though, while the previousArmored Coremodel of releasing direct sequels to each numbered game resembles the former release models of franchises likeMonster Hunter, it wasn’t exactly the same. WhileArmored Coresequel games would retain similar but expanded mechanics from their predecessors, they would also be true sequels in the sense of expanding on the previous game’s story - so the story ofArmored Core: For Answer, for example, would be different from the game that it was following up on,Armored Core 4.
Truthfully, I’m definitely more of aSoulsfan than anArmored Corefan - but after the massive experience that wasShadow of the Erdtree, (presumably) serving as the conclusion toElden Ring, I think it would be good to get another release outside the Soulslike genre from FromSoftware. And given the success and quality ofArmored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, I think it would be a shame for it not to see some sort of followup as the studio’s next release.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring is a popular game released by From Software, creators of games such as Armored Core, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. Players assume the role of a Tarnished, a being once exiled to the Lands Between and has returned to repair the Elden Ring after the events of “The Shattering.” “The Shattering” occurred when the offspring of Queen Marika battled to claim the shards of the Elden Ring, known as Great Runes. Their war has brought lawlessness, destruction, and chaos to the land, and the player will challenge them with the assistance of a Maiden known as Melina as they travel towards the great Erd Tree to face their destiny and to become the one true Elden Lord. Players can tackle the game how they choose and can adventure across realms as they build their character how they want - be it a powerful magic caster or a brutal swordsman - they will have complete control over their build.
