With just over a month to go at the time of writing this article, we're inching ever-so-slightly closer to the long-awaited Armored Core 6 PC launch day! That means preparations. And loads of them, too, because if this is your first or, perhaps, even second FromSoft release, then it's worth going over some of the specifics of the studio's seminal releases.

Notably, we are talking about the team behind Dark Souls here. That alone carries a whole heck of a lot of implications and specifics, some of which are definitely worth discussing well in advance. That's precisely what you'll find below, in fact, with some potentially valuable advice featured as well, for good measure.

READ MORE: Everything We Know About Armored Core 6

How to Prepare for the Armored Core 6 PC Release

It's no secret at all that From Software's games are rather specific in their themes, execution, and technical prowess. The studio has established itself as a veritable ARPG powerhouse, going so far as to kick off a sub-genre all of its own that precious few other devs have managed to succeed in. That's the context in which FromSoft is coming back to one of its older, albeit equally seminal IPs: Armored Core.

Over the next couple of sections, we'll give you some context as to what you should do and how to best prepare for the imminent release of Fires of Rubicon, as you're going to want to be well-equipped for what FromSoft's got in store for us all!

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#1: Get a Controller

One of the ever-present constants in all the FromSoft games is that they play way, way better with a controller. That's just how it is, and though we've got a long-lived track record of people beating Dark Souls with all manner of strange controller-type implements, the fact of the matter is that you're going to want a solid gamepad for the best possible experience.

This important piece of advice has cropped up for a variety of reasons. Obviously, the confusing keyboard input schemes are less than ideal, but FromSoft also leans heavily on careful, granular character movement that necessitates analogue input. We suggest getting a good Xbox controller, as that's a phenomenal baseline to come to grips with!

#2: Embrace the Weirdness

FromSoft narratives and backstories are infamously weird. Explaining Elden Ring, for example, is no small feat, and depending on whose interpretation of the game's metaphysics you subscribe to, you could come to wildly different conclusions about key story beats. Armored Core, too, is a far cry from a regular sci-fi universe. Though we won't be going into many details on that front here, we do offer a fair warning to anyone expecting a straightforward narrative: it's unlikely to happen.

Instead, we're almost absolutely certain to get a strange, out-there story that takes a while before it all fully untangles. That's a key part of the legendary FromSoft appeal, however, and it is worth pointing out that it's bound to be somewhat easier to keep track of than was the case with Dark Souls, for example.

#3: Avoid Spoilers (For a While)

Building onto our previous argument is this: try your best to avoid as many spoilers as long as possible. The best From Software stories need to cook for a little while, and Fires of Rubicon is sure to deliver on this front, too. Though it's a bit of a given that almost nothing will be clear from the get-go, we highly recommend ruminating on what the game is trying to get across before turning to the Internet for concrete explanations.

This is bound to be challenging if you're going to try to engage with the greater FromSoft community, but it's going to pay off. The developer's games offer a whole lot with very little, narratively-speaking, and AC6 may well deliver the studio's recent penchant for strangeness in an all-new format. We do not want to miss out on that, and going after hard-hitting reveals online basically diminishes the whole schtick!

#4: Don't Expect Cutting-Edge Technical Bits

Even though the developers over at FromSoft are practically wizards, one thing they sadly haven't historically had the best of luck with are PC ports and, really, technical prowess in general. The state of Elden Ring's PC port on launch day was rather infamous, and though it could never hope to overshadow the game's objective greatness, it's something worth keeping in mind. We have no doubt that Armored Core 6 will be a phenomenal game, especially now that the studio has learned a thing or two following its first proper open-world experience!

Broadly speaking, we anticipate FromSoft's trademark phenomenal atmosphere, visuals, and the game's general feel. At the same time, the odds are that it won't necessarily push the systems' hardware boundaries meaningfully.

FromSoft Will Deliver!

In summary, we can't wait to see what From Software has envisioned for Armored Core 6. After a series of hardcore fantasy titles, it's bound to be an exciting change of pace for the developers. For the studio's fanbase, the fact that we're getting a vehicle-focused third-person shooter with a dedicated sci-fi slant may cause a bit of whiplash, of course. That's all fine and well, though, because this isn't Dark Souls and it certainly isn't Elden Ring, either.

Instead, it's something new, fresh, and exciting - with obvious roots in a beloved franchise that had been long overdue for a proper revival. On PC, it's bound to be a hoot, and with the game set and primed to hit the stores on August 25, we won't need to wait long to see what Bandai Namco and FromSoft have got in store for us!

CHECK OUT: What's Making the Transition From Elden Ring to Armored Core 6?