FromSoftware has announced they have prepared dates for when the public will get to play Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, in-store. But, there’s a catch.
If you guessed the catch was that these previews are only in Japan, congrats! At least if FromSoftware is going to have such previews set up in the US, Europe, or other parts of the world, they haven’t announced it yet.
Most of the stores which will have the previews will be Yodobashi Camera and Bic Camera locations, so no, it’s not even a thing where they’re holding it in a store that can also be found in the US.
If you can read Japanese, you can go through the full details here. FromSoftware does seem to have planned to give very limited access as the public only gets eight hours at each location.
If you do happen to be living in Japan, you can try to catch these previews on these dates:
July 29, 2023
July 30, 2023
August 5, 2023
August 6, 2023
August 12, 2023
August 13, 2023
August 20, 2023
Of course we are assuming that most of our own readers will not have the opportunity to get to these previews. But we will likely receive word in gaming forums, social networks, and perhaps some game outlet correspondents in Japan, about how Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is like.
We already know, in spite of what some gamers want to be true, that Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon will be nothing like the Soulsborne games popularized by Hidetaka Miyazaki. Miyazaki already explained that FromSoftware’s approach to the project is to modernize the mech simulation experience, with a particular focus on the customization aspect, as well as the control aspect of mech games.
In fact, Miyazaki has gone so far as to end his participation in the game’s development, giving up designer duties to Masaru Yamamura.
Fans should remember that before Soulsborne, Armored Core was FromSoftware’s bread and butter. In spite of appearances, the last thing they want to be known for is a studio that only makes one kind of game, regardless of the success they have seen for that one game.
FromSoftware hopes to find a new audience for mech games with their return to their venerable franchise.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon will be released on August 25, 2023, on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Windows, via Steam and Epic Games Store.
