There’s no doubt that Armored Core 6 (AC6) Fires of Rubicon was a fantastic return to form for FromSoftware’s long-running series. It ignited an unprecedented level of hope among fans of the classic mecha-action series. The game eventually became From Software’s most successful release ever, and all the records known to gamers were smashed.
However, the AC 6‘s melee mechanics caught many players off-guard. FromSoftware with Seikro gave us one of the best meelee mechanics in the gaming industry. So, naturally, many players expected that AC 6 would follow up on the same, but that wasn’t the case.
FromSoftware Developers Open Up About Melee Combat in Armored Core 6
AC 6 is the latest entry in the long-running franchise. This thrilling, action-packed series puts players inside massive mecha or Armored core. It’s a popular franchise known for delivering satisfying gameplay, which can sometimes become a challenge but is quite fun.
While the AC was released to rave reviews last year, one of the biggest complaints among players was the game’s melee combat. Although the game does have a few melee options, they don’t compare to what FromSoftware has given us in past games such as Seikro.
In an interview with IGN, Hidetaka Miyazaki and Masaru Yamamura opened up about AC 6‘s development. While talking about the game, Yamamura answered some burning questions and one of them directly addressed the issue of the lack of melee weapons in the game compared to the range of mechs. Here’s what Yamamura had to say on the issue:
Yes, you’re correct in saying that Armored Core is generally about the guns, and ordnance, and missiles, and so we want to cater to this aspect this time as well, of course.
Unlike Sekiro, which focuses on swords, AC is all about guns and missiles. Developers’ primary objective is to cater to this aspect first.
We have various weapons for various ranges and various encounters, both in the two hands and on the back as well for missiles and cannons and things like that. But we wanted to put an emphasis on melee as well, so if players are this way inclined, we do have some nice melee options if they want to dive in there and get into close-quarters combat as well.
Although not much, the game still has decent melee options for players who want upfront combat with their opponents. This makes sense, considering that the AC series isn’t really your typical title. However, Miyazaki and his team still need to expand on the melee system in AC7.
Armored Core 7 May Eventually Happen, According to Miyazaki
While most of the FromSoftware fans focus on the upcoming Elden Ring expansion, many players wonder what’s next for the Armored Core. Fortunately, seems like we won’t have to wait another decade to play the next entry in the AC series.
Back in February, in an interview, Miyazaki confirmed that FromSoftware doesn’t have any intentions of abandoning the popular Armored Core series. According to him, the franchise is crucial to the developers and would definitely see a worthy successor in the future.
We have a strong will to continue [the series] in the future,” Miyazaki said. “I believe Armored Core 6 was a success. On the other hand, not everything was perfect, and there is still room for improvement. So, I have no intention of stopping there.
Although no solid details have been revealed about the future of the Armored Combat franchise, this news is likely refreshing for hardcore fans of the franchise, knowing that more mecha-based combat titles are on the cards.
