Project EARTH

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Earth's history in the Armored Core series is marked by repeated cataclysms and recoveries. In the original continuity, the "Great Destruction" forced humanity underground, where corporations vied for control, employing Ravens as mercenaries. After *Master of Arena*, humanity colonized Mars, but Earth remained a contested world. In *Armored Core 2* and *Another Age*, the Earth government struggled against corporate exploitation and rebel groups. A rebooted continuity in *Armored Core 3* depicted a global nuclear war that drove humanity underground for centuries under an AI called The Controller. The Controller's decay destroyed much of the underground network, prompting a return to the surface by the end of *Silent Line: Armored Core*. The final two games of this continuity, *Armored Core: Nexus* and *Armored Core: Last Raven*, involved the end of the existing power dynamic of corporations and Ravens fighting over the surface. Another reboot in *Armored Core 4* saw corporations seizing control of Earth's governments and waging war across the surface, leading to environmental pollution and the creation of floating cities in *Armored Core: For Answer*. Depending on player choices, humanity either barely survived or was completely eradicated. The third continuity, beginning with *Armored Core V*, featured a single corporation dominating a contaminated Earth, opposed by a resistance faction, while *Armored Core: Verdict Day* detailed another war 100 years later following an apocalyptic event.

In Their Own Story

The cockpit display flickered as the descent ramp lowered onto solid ground. For generations, pilots only knew the cold vacuum of space or the sterile metal of orbital platforms. Now, the air smelled of wet soil and pine. The ruin of an old city stood in the distance, overgrown with green vines reclaiming concrete. This was not a colony; it was home. Project EARTH had succeeded, but the wars for its future were just beginning.

Reader's Guide

The narrative arc surrounding Earth's restoration bridges the gap between the Space Colony era and the Return to Surface era. In early titles, missions focus on orbital defense and resource gathering in space. As the timeline progresses into AC3, objectives shift to ground-based combat on a recovering planet. Players witness the transition from fighting for survival in orbit to fighting for territory on Earth. The story explores how corporations utilized this restoration to expand their influence. Missions often involve protecting terraforming equipment or securing zones that were previously toxic wastelands. This progression sets the stage for later entries where the environment is stable enough for large-scale industrial warfare. Understanding this shift helps explain why pilots operate in diverse terrains, from deserts to lush forests, reflecting the success of the reclamation efforts.

Did You Know?

• In the original continuity, Earth experienced a cataclysm called the 'Great Destruction' that forced humanity underground.
• After the events of *Armored Core: Master of Arena*, humanity rebuilt and colonized Mars.
• In the *Armored Core 3* continuity, a global nuclear war drove humanity underground for centuries under an AI called The Controller.
• By the end of *Silent Line: Armored Core*, humanity had fully returned to the surface of Earth.
• In *Armored Core: For Answer*, depending on the player's choices, humanity either barely survives the conflict or is completely eradicated.