Armored Core 6 launch time: Release date, when you can play, preload, and more

Award-winning game developer FromSoftware may have dominated industry conversations with its 2022 smash hit Elden Ring, but the studio is riding that high well into 2023 with the upcoming release of Armored Core 6. The action-packed mecha title is the latest in a series that FromSoftware has been making for well over 20 years, and it promises fans tons of exhilarating mech-on-mech combat across a wide variety of levels with an even greater number of weapons and parts to choose from.

With the game's arrival imminent, FromSoftware and Bandai Namco have revealed all the details about its specific launch time, when you can preload the game, its download size, and more. Here's a complete overview of everything you need to know.

Armored Core 6: Launch date and start times

While Armored Core 6's official release date is listed as August 25, 2023, the game may unlock for you in the evening of August 24 if you live in a western region. This is because the game is scheduled to launch on August 24 in many of these locations. However, it's still coming out on August 25 in most other regions, so be aware of that.

FromSoftware and Bandai Namco have officially unveiled the specific launch times for Armored Core 6 on both console and PC across all of the major timezones. For your convenience, we've listed all of these times in the table below.

Armored Core 6: Preload date and time

Like most other AAA games, Armored Core 6 will be available to preload — or download ahead of time — before it actually launches and becomes playable. This ensures you can install it in advance and jump right in as soon as it unlocks, which is particularly beneficial to folks that have slower internet connections. This does require preordering the title, however, so be aware of that.

The game is actually available to preload on Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam right now, so if you've secured your Armored Core 6 preorder, you can already take care of the download. The Xbox preload became available towards the start of the month, while the PlayStation and PC preload unlocked on August 23.

Armored Core 6: How to play and download

As long as you've purchased Armored Core 6, the game can be installed (if preloads are unlocked) and then played (provided the game has released). If you're interested in checking out what FromSoftware's new game is all about, follow the steps below. They go over how to download and play the title on each of the platforms it's on.

Windows PC (Steam)

• Launch the Steam desktop client. Download it here if you don't have it already.
• Next, select the Library tab.
• In the Library search bar, type Armored Core VI.
• When it appears, select Armored Core VI.
  • Note that if the game isn't in your Library, you still need to purchase it from the Store tab of the Steam client. Click it and search for Armored Core VI to find the game's store page.
• To download and install the game, select the Install button.
• Finally, select Play once the installation finishes to play Armored Core VI.

Xbox

• First, launch the Xbox Store.
• In the Store's search bar, search for Armored Core VI.
• From the results that appear, select Armored Core VI.
• Next, select Download.
  • If you see the option to purchase the game instead, you still need to buy it.
• Finally, select Play once the installation is complete.
  • Moving forward, you can also launch Armored Core 6 from the "My games and apps" menu.

PlayStation

• First, launch the PlayStation Store.
• In the search bar, search for Armored Core VI.
• Next, select Armored Core VI from the results that appear.
• Then, select Download.
  • If the option to purchase the game appears instead, you still need to buy it.
• Finally, select Play once the installation finishes.
  • In the future, you can start the game from your PlayStation dashboard.

Armored Core 6: Download size

Most AAA games these days are quite large in terms of file size, but Armored Core 6 is actually pretty small compared to something like Starfield or Baldur's Gate 3. In fact, on Xbox, the game is only 53.28GB, while the Armored Core 6 PC spec requirements confirm that you'll only need 60GB to install it. On PlayStation, meanwhile, Armored Core 6 is 55.669GB on PS4, and 43.340 GB on PS5.

Something important to note is that these sizes don't take things like day one patches into account, which may add to the amount of storage the game takes up. For that reason, we recommend leaving a little bit of extra storage on your drive so that you have it available if you need it.

Armored Core 6 is scheduled to launch on August 25, and it's expected to be one of the best Xbox games and best PC games of 2023. We can't wait to jump in, especially after having our minds blown by FromSoftware's last game, Elden Ring.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon

Launching on Aug. 25, 2023, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon offers a promising modernization and revitalization of the franchise that was FromSoftware's bread and butter for years. 

Preorder from: Microsoft (Xbox) | GMG (Steam) | Amazon (Xbox & PS5)

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