Quick Facts

  • Release Date: October 2, 2026 (Early access starts September 28 or 29 for Deluxe pre-orders)
  • Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam
  • Pricing: $69.99 for Standard Edition, $89.99 for Digital Deluxe Edition, and $149.99 for the Joker Flight Pack
  • Setting: July 2029, ten years after Ace Combat 7, during the Republic of Sotoa's invasion of the Federation of Central Usea

Seven years after the 2019 release of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, Project Aces is returning to the Strangereal universe with Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve. Published by Bandai Namco, the mainline sequel brings back arcade flight combat while introducing squad commands, base exploration, and a larger multiplayer suite.

Story Campaign and Setting

The campaign opens in July 2029, following the Republic of Sotoa's invasion of the Federation of Central Usea and the fall of its capital, Theve. With the FCU military scattered, the aircraft carrier Endurance serves as the player's mobile home base throughout the story.

Players start as a navigator to Commander Jan “Rex” Cope, an FCU propaganda hero known as the Wings of Theve. After Cope is shot down and killed, the player assumes his identity to keep the legend alive. Written by Sunao Katabuchi, who previously worked on Ace Combat 04 and Ace Combat 5, the story allows players to walk around the Endurance in first person between missions to interact with the crew.

Squad Commands and Gameplay Changes

While retaining the dogfights, special weapons, and high-G turns from prior entries, Ace Combat 8 introduces direct orders for wingmen. Joker Flight consists of three AI pilots—Ellington “Professor” Baxter, Tasha Severskya, and William “Noise” Coster—whose aircraft and loadouts can be customized before a mission.

During operations, players can command wingmen to focus specific targets, spread out, cover the player, or deploy their own special weapons. Brand director Kazutoki Kono noted that certain mission objectives and character survival outcomes depend on player choices, though these decisions do not alter the overall narrative arc. The campaign also features massive set pieces, including a 450-meter Land Battleship equipped with railguns and anti-air systems.

Aircraft Hangar and Pre-Order Bonuses

Over 30 playable aircraft span fighter, attacker, multirole, and electronic warfare classes. Confirmed models include the F-22A Raptor, JAS 39 Gripen E, MiG-21bis, Rafale M, Eurofighter Typhoon, Su-35, F-35C, and Su-47.

All pre-orders include the F-14A Tomcat and a digital port of 2006's Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War for PS2, which unlocks alongside Ace Combat 8 and requires an initial online activation. The first Premium Ace Pass grants immediate multiplayer access to the fictional ADFX-02 Morgan -PIXY-, which unlocks for the campaign only after beating every mission.

Multiplayer and Ace Combat Online

Ace Combat Online features an explorable online air base where players walk around as customizable avatars. The mode supports cross-play, co-op missions, and competitive battles for up to eight players. Progression runs through a seasonal Ace Pass system offering free and paid cosmetic and upgrade tracks without randomized loot boxes.

Editions and PC System Requirements

Three retail versions are available:

  • Standard Edition ($69.99): Base game only.
  • Digital Deluxe Edition ($89.99): Base game, early access, a Premium Ace Pass Plus voucher, and cosmetics.
  • Joker Flight Pack ($149.99): Deluxe Edition physical bundle including two soundtrack LPs, a turntable slipmat, and the 200-page ACES at WAR: A HISTORY 2029 artbook.

On PC, the game requires Windows 11, DirectX 12, an SSD, and 125GB of storage. Hardware ray tracing support is mandatory even at minimum settings, with the minimum spec targeting upscaled 1080p at 30fps using an RTX 2060 or RX 6600 XT, and recommended specs targeting upscaled 1080p at 60fps using an RTX 3070 or RX 6800.