FromSoftwarehas a storied history in the video game industry, butElden Ringis perhaps its most successful title yet. When the dark fantasy RPG was released on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC in 2022, it immediately became a cultural phenomenon.Elden Ringsold an astounding 13.4 million copies in just a few weeks, and it was widely lauded as one of the best games ever made.FromSoftwareproved thatER’s success wasn’t a mere fluke when it released its first and only expansion,Shadow of the Erdtree, earlier this year; like the base game, it launched to similar critical and commercial success.
Despite the popularity of theElden RingIP, it seems like players won’t get the chance to experience a sequel to the game anytime soon. Hidetaka Miyazaki, the esteemed director behindElden Ring, recently confirmed in an interview with Game Watch thatFromSoftware was not actively planning to make anElden Ring 2. He did, however, note that this didn’t mean the company was “denying the development of the IP.” Even though FromSoftware may not make a direct follow-up to its critically acclaimed 2022 RPG, it appears that it’s open to expanding the world ofElden Ringin other ways, perhaps by making spin-offs. If FromSoft does indeed go this route, then it should also consider making spin-offs for the recently-releasedArmored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon.
FromSoftware Should Make More Spin-Offs in the Armored Core Franchise
Armored Core 6’s Success Should Encourage FromSoftware to Expand the Armored Core IP
Armored Core 6is the most recent installment in FromSoftware’s long-runningArmored Coreseries, and it was released just last year. Despite being a new entry in a franchise that was dormant for an entire decade,AC6was a triumph for both FromSoft and publisher Bandai Namco. The game didn’t break into the zeitgeist in the same way thatElden Ringdid, but it ended up becoming the best-sellingACtitle ever made, asAC6sold approximately 3 million copies worldwidein less than a year. Given the positive commercial reception thatAC6received, it seems like it would be a no-brainer for FromSoftware to capitalize on its success by making follow-ups to the game, both spin-offs and mainline entries.
There Aren’t A Lot of Armored Core Spin-Offs Out There
TheArmored Corefranchisehas been around for nearly 30 years, but it hasn’t received a lot of side games or spin-offs. Pretty much every installment in the series is a third-person mecha shooter; they have almost never strayed away from the formula established by their predecessors. That being said, there are a fewACtitles that don’t fall under this category, such asArmored Core: Nine BreakerandArmored Core: Formula Front.
These two games, which were released in 2004 asPlayStation console exclusives, are both still mecha shooters. However, instead of having story-based missions like the mainlineArmored Coreentries, they feature PvE combat encounters that take place during tournaments. There were five otherACspin-offs released exclusively for mobile phones in Japan as well, includingArmored Core: Mobile MissionandArmored Core: Mobile Online, but very little is known about them since they were all shut down.
FromSoftware Could Make Armored Core More Popular By Making Spin-Offs in Different Genres
Miyazaki recently revealed thatFromSoftware is working on multiple new projectsin a variety of genres, which shows that the company is trying to branch out from what it is typically known for. Taking this into consideration, it would be a great idea for the studio to takeArmored Coreto the next level by making a spin-off in the series that’s in an entirely different genre compared to its predecessors.
Instead of making yet another third-person shooter, maybe FromSoftware can create a tactical turn-basedArmored CoreRPG in the vein ofFront Mission, or perhaps they can develop a character action game along the lines ofMetal Wolf Chaos. The mere concept of a non-conventionalACgame may be preposterous to some, but diversifying the series with spin-offs in different genres can help it appeal to a wider audience.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon
WHERE TO PLAY
Combining FromSoftware’s longstanding expertise in mech games with their signature action gameplay, ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON brings a brand-new action experience to the series.Dynamic, Omni-directional Battles Players will pilot their mech in fast-paced, omni-directional battles, taking advantage of massive stages and their mech’s mobility on land and in the air to ensure victory.Customized Parts for Individual Battle Styles Customize Armored Core parts to suit a large variety of playstyles. Selecting different parts not only changes the mech’s attacks, but also directly affects its movement and battle style, so each mission can be approached with a unique mech strategy.Thrilling Boss Battles Deploy a wide variety of offensive and defensive tactics at close and long range to take down powerful enemy bosses.
