The AC6Launcher is a small project that launches Armored Core 6 (or the AC6 Coop Launcher) without the stutters. The launcher sets the CPU affinity of armoredcore6.exe and bans the use of CPU0. This is a common solution to stop AC6 from severe stuttering.

Where to get it

https://gitlab.com/samurailink3/ac6launcher

Instructions are on the Readme on that page.

How it works

• Launches AC6, either through the standard armoredcore6.exe or the Coop Launcher ac6_for_coop_launcher.exe
• Watches for armoredcore6.exe
• After it finds the process, wait 15 seconds then…
• Sets CPU affinity to block only the first processor
• No more stutters 🙂

Background (aka story time)

Armored Core 6 has a well documented problem with stuttering on some systems. Stuttering was so bad that pre-rendered cutscene FMVs would continue playing for a full minute after the audio completed. It was bad. Originally, this stuttering led me to just outright refund the game on Steam, but recently I decided to give it another shot.

One very strange suggestion led me to setting core affinity on the armoredcore6.exe process to ban the use of CPU0, the first CPU core. Suddenly, no more stutters. It was magical. So the workflow was now:

• Launch AC6, either through the excellent Armored Core Coop Mod or regularly through Steam
• Open Task Manager
• Navigate to the Details tab
• Right click armoredcore6.exe
• Set affinity
• Unchcked CPU 0 and press OK

The main issue with this is that you need to do this every time you launch the game.