G-MODE dropped a surprise announcement on December 21, 2025, revealing that Armored Core: Mobile 3 is coming to Nintendo Switch and PC as part of their G-MODE Archives+ preservation initiative. Originally released exclusively for Japanese feature phones way back on January 25, 2007, this FromSoftware-developed mech game offers a genuine 3D perspective and mission-based gameplay that closely resembles console Armored Core entries rather than simplified mobile adaptations. No release date was announced yet, but the Steam page is already live worldwide.
What Is Armored Core Mobile 3
Armored Core: Mobile 3 represents something unusual in gaming history. While most mobile tie-ins from the 2000s drastically simplified their console counterparts, this flip phone game delivered full 3D mech action with the customization depth the series is known for. Players take on missions across various scenarios including urban assaults and wasteland defenses, piloting customizable mechs called Armored Cores through third-person perspective combat.
The game fits into Armored Core’s convoluted timeline between two PlayStation 2 titles, Armored Core: Nexus and Armored Core: Last Raven. This exclusive storyline never appeared anywhere else, making it a legitimate missing piece of FromSoftware lore that only Japanese mobile gamers experienced back in 2007. The narrative follows the series tradition of corporate warfare and mercenary Ravens fighting for the highest bidder in a dystopian future.
Full Customization on a Flip Phone
The customization system remained intact despite the hardware limitations. Players can choose different parts for each section of their mech, building specialized units tailored to their preferred combat style. Head, torso, arms, and legs all impact performance and appearance. Paint customization lets you adjust colors to create a unique look. The variety of parts means you can construct heavy tanks bristling with firepower or nimble speed builds that strike from range.
Each mission completion rewards players with money and potentially new parts, creating the classic Armored Core progression loop. The ranking system pushes for excellence, with top-tier Raven Rank S requiring near-perfect mission completions. This structure encouraged replaying missions with different loadouts to optimize performance and unlock better equipment, giving the game surprising depth for a mobile title from 2007.
G-MODE’s Preservation Mission
G-MODE Archives+ exists specifically to preserve Japanese mobile games from the feature phone era before smartphones took over. The announcement of Armored Core: Mobile 3 came during their sixth anniversary celebration livestream, alongside four other upcoming releases. Mobile 3 is actually the second Armored Core mobile game they’ve rescued, following Armored Core: Mobile Mission which launched on Switch and Steam back in April 2025.
The preservation work matters because these games would otherwise disappear completely. Feature phone services shut down years ago, and the games themselves existed only on proprietary mobile networks. G-MODE secures licenses, updates the games to run on modern hardware, and releases them digitally. While they typically don’t add English translations or achievements, the games remain playable in their original Japanese form for anyone willing to navigate the language barrier.
The Language Barrier Issue
Here’s the catch that might disappoint Western fans. The PC version releases worldwide on Steam, but G-MODE’s ports never include English language options. Some menu text and weapon stats use English, making basic navigation possible, but mission briefings and story content remain entirely in Japanese. Players who don’t read Japanese will miss narrative context and struggle with mission objectives.
The Switch version only releases in Japan through the Japanese eShop, requiring a Japanese Nintendo account to purchase. Combined with the lack of English support, this creates significant barriers for international fans curious about FromSoftware’s mobile experiments. Fan translation patches remain unlikely given the niche nature of these releases and G-MODE’s typical approach to these archives.
Why This Matters for Armored Core Fans
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon brought the franchise roaring back to mainstream relevance in 2023 after years of dormancy. That success created renewed interest in the series’ extensive back catalog spanning nearly three decades. Mobile 3 represents a genuine piece of that history, not a forgettable cash-grab but a legitimate FromSoftware-developed entry with unique story content that connects established console releases.
The timeline placement between Nexus and Last Raven makes it particularly interesting for lore enthusiasts. Those two games represented a darker turn for the series with harder difficulty and bleaker narratives. Understanding what happened between them adds context to the overall arc of that particular timeline branch, one of several in Armored Core’s notoriously complex universe where different games exist in separate continuities.
What Else G-MODE Revealed
Armored Core: Mobile 3 wasn’t the only announcement. G-MODE confirmed four additional titles for their Archives+ lineup. Flash Motor Karen hits both Switch and PC. JB Harold no Jikenbo #1: Murder Club, known internationally as JB Harold Murder Club, comes to Switch only. Monstre Waltz: Live launches on Switch and PC. Tokyo Maboroshi Kitan arrives on Switch. None of these received specific release dates either, following G-MODE’s pattern of announcing games well before finalizing launch windows.
The announcements came ahead of G-MODE Archives+’s actual sixth anniversary in April 2026. This early reveal strategy lets the company build awareness and gauge interest before committing resources to marketing pushes. The catalog now includes dozens of preserved mobile games spanning multiple genres, though Armored Core entries naturally generate the most buzz given FromSoftware’s current prominence.
The Missing Mobile Armored Core Games
G-MODE has now rescued two of the four Armored Core mobile games. Mobile Mission arrived in April 2025 as a top-down action game from 2004. Mobile 3 follows with its 2007 third-person perspective. That leaves two unreleased titles. Mobile Online, the actual third mobile game chronologically, featured multiplayer functionality that makes porting complicated and unlikely given G-MODE’s typical scope. Mobile 4 remains the most requested, featuring gameplay closest to console versions with full 3D environments and extensive customization.
Fans on Reddit expressed hope that G-MODE will eventually tackle Mobile 4, completing the preservation of single-player Armored Core mobile titles. The technical challenges increase with each successive game as they grew more complex and hardware-intensive. However, G-MODE’s commitment to the franchise suggests they recognize the value in making these lost FromSoftware games accessible again, even in limited Japanese-only form.
FAQs
When does Armored Core: Mobile 3 release?
No release date has been announced yet. G-MODE revealed the game on December 21, 2025, with only a Steam page and trailer currently available. Release timing remains unconfirmed beyond sometime in the future.
What platforms is Armored Core: Mobile 3 coming to?
The game launches on Nintendo Switch via Japanese eShop and PC via Steam worldwide. However, the PC version will only be available in Japanese with no English language option.
What was Armored Core: Mobile 3 originally?
It was a FromSoftware-developed action game that launched exclusively for Japanese feature phones (flip phones) on January 25, 2007. It featured full 3D mech combat and customization despite being a mobile title.
Where does Mobile 3 fit in Armored Core lore?
The story fills the gap between Armored Core: Nexus and Armored Core: Last Raven, two PlayStation 2 games from the mid-2000s. It features exclusive narrative content that never appeared in console versions.
Will there be an English translation?
No. G-MODE Archives+ releases never include English translations or additional languages. Some UI elements and stats use English, but mission briefings and story remain entirely in Japanese.
What is G-MODE Archives+?
It’s a game preservation initiative by G-MODE that rescues Japanese feature phone games from the pre-smartphone era, updating them to run on modern Switch and PC hardware while maintaining their original form.
How much will Armored Core: Mobile 3 cost?
Pricing hasn’t been announced. Previous G-MODE Archives+ titles typically cost around 1,100 yen (approximately 7 to 8 dollars) on Switch, with similar pricing on Steam.
Can I play other Armored Core mobile games?
Yes. G-MODE already released Armored Core: Mobile Mission on Switch and Steam in April 2025. That game uses a top-down perspective and originally launched for feature phones in 2004.
Conclusion
Armored Core: Mobile 3’s resurrection gives hardcore FromSoftware fans access to a genuinely lost piece of franchise history. The language barrier will frustrate Western players, but the existence of an official preservation effort beats these games vanishing forever. G-MODE’s commitment to the Archives+ project ensures that Japanese gaming history from the feature phone era gets documented and made playable again, even if access remains limited. For Armored Core completionists and FromSoftware historians, this represents a rare opportunity to experience something that seemed permanently lost to time. Whether G-MODE eventually tackles Mobile 4 remains uncertain, but the continued support for these niche releases suggests the preservation work will continue as long as there’s demand.