Armored Core 6: do you need to play the previous games to understand the story?

Even though there’s been over fifteen entries in the Armored Core franchise, with the first title having been released back in 1997, From Software hadn’t touched the series in over ten years. Due to Dark Souls’ success, the company went on a hiatus after Armored Core V (2012) and focused on other titles like Bloodborne, Sekiro, and Elden Ring. It’s been a decade of success for the studio, even earning themselves two Game of the Year awards, but also amassing a new fan base that now have no idea what to expect, or where to begin. Do they need to complete any of the previous games before playing Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon?

According to Masaru Yamamura, no, there’s no need to have any background about the franchise. The game’s director (who also directed Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice) confirmed during an interview with IGN that we’re dealing with a completely fresh new story. He said: “There are no direct links with the previous games in terms of continuing story. This is a brand-new setting and a brand-new story for players to enjoy.”

With this decision, the beginning of a fourth timeline for the Armored Core series is set. Given that this is the fourth reboot of the story and universe of Armored Core, and that we’ve been so deeply invested in the soulsborne connections and plots, the previous AC games would be divided as such:

First timeline

Second timeline

Third timeline

Fourth timeline