It's been almost two years since Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon launched. And while it was a fantastic game through and through, it felt like something was missing. Something that would’ve pushed it into personal 10/10 territory—like what Elden Ring pulled off. What I needed was a DLC. An expansion that delved deeper into the game’s fascinating lore and the mysteries of the planet Rubicon.
Unfortunately, nearly two years have passed, and FromSoftware doesn’t seem keen on adding new content to their premier mecha-based vehicular combat RPG. But this is me, begging: FromSoftware, please reconsider and give us a full-blown story expansion for Armored Core VI.
Or maybe…they’re already working on it in secret?
Instead of directly asking FromSoftware (because let’s be honest, we know that DLC probably isn’t coming), let’s do the next best thing—speculate wildly about where the next Armored Core story could take us.
The Coral Continues
The biggest mystery in Armored Core VI revolves around Coral—this bizarre, sentient extraterrestrial resource. It's both a fuel and a force, capable of powering machines to their limits. And, like all good post-apocalyptic sci-fi tropes, overusing Coral led to the downfall of Rubicon and reshaped the planet’s ecosystem.
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+ 4Personally, I’d love to see this storyline expanded in a potential DLC. Ayre—the little waifu voice in our heads—is a part of the Coral hivemind, and there’s still so much we don’t know about her (or its) existence.
The Institute Storyline
click to enlarge+ 4Another big enigma in the game is the fall of the Institute—a group of scientists who studied Coral and ultimately met their end because of it. If FromSoftware wants free money, diving into what happened to the remaining members of the Institute—or even better, taking us back in time like Bloodborne: The Old Hunters or Dark Souls—would be gold.
There’s so much untapped potential in exploring that forgotten era before the Fires of Ibis scorched everything.
A Better PvP Mode
Let’s be honest: Armored Core VI is made even better by its PvP mode. After spending hours grinding through the main campaign and chasing S-Ranks on every mission, jumping into the Arena is the perfect outlet to release those frustrations onto some poor, unsuspecting stranger. It usually ends one of two ways: either I get completely wrecked, or I turn their AC into metallic mincemeat.
click to enlarge+ 4We need more of this in future Armored Core titles. With FromSoftware now dabbling in multiplayer-heavy projects like The Duskbloods and Nightreign, maybe we’ll see a sturdier online architecture with fewer server issues down the line.
Was the Secret Level Story Enough?
Amazon’s Secret Level TV series gave us a different perspective on the Armored Core universe. Instead of focusing on towering machines, it spotlighted the humans inside them. Keanu Reeves plays a disposable mercenary pilot, and yeah—he nails it.
Sadly, it doesn’t tie directly into the game’s storyline. But it did give us a rare glimpse into what everyday life might look like outside those metal death machines.
click to enlarge+ 4Too bad it might be the only extended Armored Core content we get.
As a new fan of the Armored Core series, it’s honestly frustrating to see FromSoftware not capitalize on the fact that this game screams for a DLC or a massive expansion—something in the vein of Shadow of the Erdtree. But hey, maybe that’s just wishful thinking at this point.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Features and Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon page.