Armored Core 6 is due to release sometime in 2023, and given that we're nearly halfway through the year, that means there isn't long left to wait. Eagerly anticipating its imminent release, one fan put together a bingo card made up of expected features and returning characters, so that when it does arrive, everyone can tick off their predictions and pass it around to see who got closest.
The options are based on the series' history, as well as FromSoftware staples - if you're new to Armored Core but have played any Soulsborne game in the past, you'll be all too familiar with poison swamps. Dark Souls 3 had two, Elden Ring has too many, and Bloodborne stuck one underground. They're a FromSoft signature, meaning they appear in AC too, so of course, an "obligatory poison haze" made its way to the bingo sheet.
Another recurring FromSoft icon is Patches, the bald schemer who likes to kick us off cliffs, rant and rave about those pesky clerics, and sell stolen wares. They've been everywhere from Demon's Souls to Bloodborne to Elden Ring, though in Bloodborne, they were a spider with a human head. Terrifying. They're another recurring Souls staple that also has roots in other FromSoft titles, appearing in Armored Core, so of course, they're on the sheet.
One obvious certainty on the bingo card is the Moonlight Greatsword. It appeared as far back as King's Field, as well as in the AC series and across a spectrum of Soulsborne games, with one commenter saying its inclusion is "waay too safe". That's why UnassumingSingleGuy replied, "That option should be the center 'gimme' tile."
Leaning away from FromSoft in general and more into AC territory, there are a few in-jokes that are just as likely as our favourite bald-headed cliff-kicker. We have the obligatory escort mission, references to past games, a broken machinegun, the shotgun finally being viable, a hard mode, and a "For Answer Style Mission Briefing".
If you haven't played Armored Core: For Answer, each quest starts with a Mission Impossible-style military briefing. A higher-up walks you through a dossier that breaks down where you're headed and what you're doing, complete with any hurdles you might face - like enemies getting their hands on some dangerous tech - as well as what support you have at your disposal. To top it off, each corporation has its own spin on the briefing format, giving them each a distinct identity.
While this is a very modern way to send us off to battle, some commenters are hoping to see an AC4-style mission briefing or something based on the second game. We don't know yet what it'll look like, but with eight months left in 2023, we should find out soon enough.