Bandai Namco has confirmed that Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve launches globally on October 2, 2026, with regional timing placing the North American release on October 1. Preorders are live now across all platforms. Deluxe Edition early access begins September 28 at 3 PM PDT in North America, with Bandai Namco Europe listing September 29 for its regional timing. The game was revealed at The Game Awards on December 11, 2025 with a 2026 release window as part of the franchise’s 30th anniversary, before the October date was confirmed at PlayStation’s State of Play June 2026.
Ace Combat 8 Wings of Theve Launches on 2nd October 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC
| Detail | Confirmed Info |
|---|---|
| Release date | October 2, 2026 (October 1 in North America) |
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC via Steam |
| Developer | Bandai Namco Aces Inc. / Project Aces |
| Publisher | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
| Setting | Strangereal, July 2029 |
North American players get a precise launch window of October 1 at 3 PM PT / 6 PM ET, which aligns with October 2 at 12 AM CEST and 7 AM JST globally. Ace Combat 8 Wings of Theve is confirmed for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam. No PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, or Nintendo Switch 2 version has been announced.
Deluxe Edition Includes Early Access, Cosmetics, and Premium Ace Pass
Two editions are available at launch:
Standard Edition — $69.99
- Base game
- Preorder bonus: Playable F-14A aircraft
- Preorder bonus: Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War port (version depends on platform)
Deluxe Edition — $89.99
- Base game and all preorder bonuses
- Customizable Cosmetic Set
- Premium Ace Pass Plus Voucher
- 3-Day Early Access (PS5 early access begins September 28 at 3 PM PDT; general Deluxe early access begins September 29)
Physical collector bundles — including the Joker Flight Pack and Premium Joker Flight Pack — are available through the Bandai Namco Europe store in select regions. These include all Deluxe Edition content plus physical extras such as vinyl records, a slipmat, and the ACES at WAR: A HISTORY 2029 artbook.
Ace Combat Zero Returns as a Preorder Bonus
Both Standard and Deluxe Edition of Ace Combat 8 Wings of Theve preorders include a platform-matched port of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War — PS5 version on PlayStation Store, Xbox Series X/S version on Xbox, and the Steam version on PC. This is confirmed as a preorder bonus — not a separate purchase — and applies to both editions while preorder availability lasts.
Wings of Theve Returns to Strangereal With a New Homeland War
Ace Combat 8 Wings of Theve returns to Strangereal, the fictional world used across multiple series entries. The story is set in July 2029, after the Federation of Central Usea is invaded by the neighboring Republic of Sotoa. The FCU capital, Theve, has fallen. The navy is shattered, civilians are displaced, and the player begins the game after being rescued from the sea by an aging aircraft carrier called the Endurance.
The player carries the symbolic ace identity “Wings of Theve” — a legendary name tied to the FCU capital that Bandai Namco describes as originally a morale-boosting lie. The player must now carry that name into battle to help reclaim the homeland.
Joker Squadron, Land Battleship, and Over 30 Aircraft Confirmed
Squadron: The player commands Joker Squadron, also called Joker Flight. Three confirmed squadmates:
- Ellington Baxter — nicknamed “Professor”
- Tasha Seversky — a former Yuktobanian acrobatic pilot
- William Coster — nicknamed “Noise”
Kate Evans, nicknamed “Little Bee,” is confirmed as Lieutenant Commander and leader of Queen Flight.
Aircraft: Over 30 aircraft are confirmed, spanning fighters, attack aircraft, multi-role aircraft, and electronic warfare aircraft — a mix of real-world fighters and original fictional models.
Land Battleship: The major new large-scale threat is a Land Battleship approximately 450 meters long, capable of destroying skyscrapers in Theve with massive main-gun attacks. Mission types confirmed by PlayStation Blog include air-to-air combat, ground attack, anti-ship missions, and giant weapon battles.
Technology: The game runs on Unreal Engine 5 and uses Bandai Namco’s proprietary Cloudly technology. Cloudly is designed to make clouds and contrails functional as gameplay elements, not just visual improvements — clouds help players judge altitude, and contrails help identify enemy aircraft movement.
Ace Combat Online Promises the Series’ Biggest Multiplayer Mode
Ace Combat Online is described by PlayStation as the largest online mode in series history. Confirmed features include:
- The series’ first online lobby — an air-base space with a customisable avatar
- Multiplayer missions
- Co-op play
- Cross-platform play
Bandai Namco has stated that additional multiplayer details will be revealed closer to launch. The full scope of online modes has not been completely detailed yet.
Premium Ace Pass
Ace Combat 8 introduces an Ace Pass system with free and premium seasonal progression tracks. The premium track — Premium Ace Pass — is available as a separate purchase. The Deluxe Edition includes a Premium Ace Pass Plus Voucher, which adds Premium Ace Pass rewards plus a 30-level skip on top of the standard premium track.
Confirmed seasonal contents:
- Aircraft skins and avatar costumes
- Upgrade items
- Playable ADFX-02 MORGAN -PIXY- additional aircraft (Season 1 premium content)
VR Support
Ace Combat 8 does not support VR. Ace Combat brand director Kazutoki Kono stated that the team considered VR but chose not to pursue it, concluding that making a strong flat-screen game and a strong VR game would effectively require developing two separate products.
What Bandai Namco Has Not Confirmed Yet
- Full breakdown of all online multiplayer modes — PlayStation gives strong details, but Bandai Namco states more information is coming closer to launch
- Complete aircraft roster beyond the confirmed 30-plus count
- Regional pricing outside of PlayStation Store USD listings
- Full Premium Ace Pass seasonal content schedule
Where to Preorder
Preorders are live now on PlayStation Store, Xbox, and Steam. Digital store listings show Standard at $69.99 and Deluxe at $89.99 in the US — pricing may vary by region and storefront. Physical collector bundles are available through the Bandai Namco Europe store depending on regional availability.