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Ace Combat
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is set to launch on October 2, 2026, with pre-orders open for two special editions and a pre-order bonus port of Ace Combat Zero.
Synthesized from 6
Yomimono stories · updated
Jun 8
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve during Sony's State of Play livestream on June 3, 2026. The game launches October 2, 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. It is developed by Bandai Namco Aces Inc., a studio formed in July 2022 by Bandai Namco Entertainment and ILCA, and built on Unreal Engine 5. Players take the role of a fighter pilot rescued at sea by the aging aircraft carrier Endurance, belonging to the Federation of Central Usea. The pilot is entrusted with the legendary ace known as the Wings of Seave and must reclaim lost territory alongside three new companions.
A port of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War is included as a pre-order bonus for the digital version and as an early purchase bonus for the physical version. Early access for the Deluxe Edition begins September 29. Pre-orders for two special editions opened on June 3 at Premium Bandai: the Collector's Box at 15,730 yen and the Ace of Aces Box at 39,600 yen, both shipping in September. The Ace of Aces Box adds a 30th anniversary pin set and dog tags, marking the series' first premium collector's bundle for a numbered entry.
Before release, the character Tasha Seversky, a female pilot from the Joker squadron's 3rd aircraft and a star pilot of the acrobatic team Zvezda, became a trending topic on social media, with fans calling her 'too cute.' The game also appeared at tenth place in Steam's weekly sales rankings for the week of June 8, 2026, building pre-release momentum. The series celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
Key facts
- Release date
- October 2, 2026 ↗
- Platforms
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam ↗
- Developer
- Bandai Namco Aces Inc. ↗
- Pre-order bonus
- A port of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War ↗
- Deluxe Edition early access
- September 29, 2026 ↗
- Collector's Box price
- 15,730 yen ↗
- Ace of Aces Box price
- 39,600 yen ↗
- Notable character
- Tasha Seversky, a female pilot from the Joker squadron's 3rd aircraft and star pilot of the acrobatic team Zvezda ↗
- Steam sales ranking
- Tenth place for the week of June 8, 2026 ↗
Timeline
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
All coverage
2d ago
Bandai Namco will sell new merchandise for Ace Combat, Tales of, Katamari Damacy, and other series at TGS2026. The early sales run September 17 to 21 at the ASOBI STORE branch in Makuhari Messe Hall 11. Items include a Katamari Damacy King Rainbow tissue box cover, a Little Nightmares Twin Chefs T-shirt, and an Ace Combat 8 tumbler. Pre-orders open on ASOBI STORE on September 28, with shipping planned from the end of January 2027.
Sep 1
Bandai Namco Entertainment released the online mode trailer for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve on September 1. The mode is positioned as the game's end content and the largest online mode in series history. Players take the role of mercenary pilots gathering at an air base lobby where up to 100 players can connect at once. The main missions are CooP Assault, a PvE mode in which two teams of four cooperate on missions and compete for high scores, and CooP Warfare, a PvPvE mode in which two teams of four fight each other alongside NPC units. CooP Warfare includes a threat level system: surviving without being shot down raises your threat, which increases score gained from kills but also the score given to opponents when you are shot down. Reaching three stars marks a player as an ace aircraft. Special missions include Emergency Sortie, where eight players face the series' signature giant weapons, and Scramble, a four-player fight against NPC rival units. The game launches October 2 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
Aug 28
Tokyo Game Show 2026 announced on August 24 that it will distribute free official LINE stamps in collaboration with popular game characters. The stamps became available on August 25 and will be distributed until November 16. Users can obtain them by adding the official TGS2026 LINE account as a friend. The lineup includes Cloud from Final Fantasy VII, Sonic from the Sonic series, Diana from Pragmata, and Astro from Astro Bot. Also included is Tasha Severskaya from Ace Combat 8, a title that has not yet been released. Each stamp features lines that symbolize the characters, such as "Not interested" and "TOO EASY!" Ahead of the distribution, silhouettes of eight stamps were revealed, hinting at the characters and their catchphrases. The event itself is scheduled to run from September 17 to September 21, spanning five days, the longest in its history. Tokyo Game Show marks its 30th anniversary this year, having first been held in 1996.
Aug 10
Bandai Namco detailed the enhancement parts system for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve via the official Ace Combat X account. Parts fall into three types: BODY for handling, ARMS for weapon power, and MISC for special effects like detecting stealth aircraft. The August 4 post also introduced the AIRCRAFT TREE, a skill tree where players spend Military Result Points to unlock new aircraft, parts, and special weapons. The game launches October 2 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Aug 6
Thrustmaster, through its official Japanese distributor Gate, announced a new flight stick controller for the upcoming game "ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE." The controller, named "T.Flight HOTAS NEO ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE Edition," is scheduled for release on October 2. It will be available in two model variants: one for PC and PlayStation 5/4 with an official PlayStation license, and another for PC and Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One. The manufacturer's suggested retail price is around 28,000 yen including tax, though one source lists an estimated market price of 30,800 yen. The stick includes a vibration motor in the grip, a feature requested by Bandai Namco Entertainment, to transmit feedback from cannon fire, missile impacts, acceleration, and G-forces. It also adds a directional mini-stick on top of the stick, another request from the publisher. The controller uses magnetic hall effect sensors for precision and durability, and the throttle unit is detachable for flexible placement. Pre-orders began on August 6 in Japan, and the product carries an official license for both the game and PlayStation.
Aug 6
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on August 5 that it will exhibit at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held September 17 to 21 at Makuhari Messe. The company's main booth in Hall 5 will feature playable demos of several upcoming titles, including the latest entry in the Ace Combat series, ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE, which makes its first appearance at a domestic game event. Also on offer are demos for DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 3, scheduled for release within 2027, and the smartphone game BLEACH Mirrors High, which includes new characters designed by Tite Kubo. The demo for ACE COMBAT 8 requires a numbered ticket distributed at the booth on public days, September 19 to 21. Additional exhibits include ONE PIECE: Ocean's Delicious Restaurant, a simulation game where players manage a sea restaurant, and Tales of Eternia Remastered, which has a reservation campaign for original goods. The Family Game Park at TKP Tokyo Bay Makuhari Hall will host demos for Once Upon a Katamari and Tamagotchi's Petit Petit Omisecchi Omachido~sama! Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. New merchandise for several titles will be sold in advance at the ASOBI STORE satellite location in Hall 11.
Aug 5
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on August 5 that it will exhibit five titles at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held at Makuhari Messe from September 17 to 21. The main booth in Hall 5 will feature playable demos for 'ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE', 'Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3', 'One Piece: Sea of Delights Restaurant', and 'Bleach Mirrors High'. 'Tales of Eternia Remaster' will be present but only with a reservation campaign, no demo. 'ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE' is scheduled for release on October 2, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. It is the first in the series to feature a first-person perspective in its drama parts, and this will be its first exhibition at a domestic game event. Public days from September 19 to 21 will require a numbered ticket for the demo, distributed at the booth. Demo participants receive an original sticker. The Family Game Park at TKP Tokyo Bay Makuhari Hall will offer demos of 'Once Upon a Katamari' and 'Tamagotchi Petit Petit Store: Welcome! Nintendo Switch 2 Edition'. The ASOBI STORE satellite booth in Hall 11 will sell advance merchandise for 'Ace Combat 8', the 'Tales of' series, Katamari, Pac-Man, and Taiko no Tatsujin.
Jul 13
ASCII.jp is running a series of Amazon Prime Day 2026 recommendations for Steam games, with several titles discounted through July 13. Three notable deals include Bandai Namco's Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown - Top Gun: Maverick Ultimate Edition at 79 percent off, dropping from 12,650 yen to 2,657 yen. The edition includes the main game, Season Pass with three additional missions and aircraft, and a Top Gun aircraft set. Firaxis Games' Sid Meier's Civilization VII is half off at 4,400 yen, down from 8,800 yen. The latest installment divides campaigns into three eras and allows separate selection of leaders and civilizations. Bandai Namco's Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition is also 79 percent off at 1,317 yen, reduced from 6,270 yen. The definitive edition features upgraded graphics, additional playable characters, and scenarios not in the original Xbox 360 version. All three deals are available on Steam during the Prime Day event.
Jul 11
Hasegawa announced a 1/48 scale plastic model of the F-4E Phantom II from ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES UNKNOWN, featuring the markings of the DLC aircraft piloted by Mobius 1. The kit follows a previous 1/72 release and includes decals for the ISAF 118th Tactical Fighter Squadron. It is priced at 6,050 yen and scheduled for release on September 30, 2026.
Jun 30
Bandai Namco released a memorial video for the Ace Combat Zero port on June 30, the series' 31st anniversary. The PS2 classic is revived at 2160p/60fps and included as an early purchase and preorder bonus for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, which launches October 2, 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Brand director Kazutoshi Kono also issued a message marking the anniversary.
Jun 23
Bandai Namco confirmed that Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a standalone title, so new players can enjoy it without playing previous games. The game is set in the Strangereal world on the Usea continent, 10 years after Ace Combat 7. It launches October 2, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows.
Jun 17
Hori announced on June 17 that it will release the "ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE Flight Stick for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows PC" (model SPF-034) on October 2 at a price of 21,980 yen. The stick uses magnetic hall-effect sensors for high precision and durability. It features a symmetrical grip for ambidextrous use, independent throttle and brake levers for quick operation, and a dedicated button for the High-G turn mechanic from the Ace Combat series. The base includes eight customizable free buttons and blue LED illumination. On PC, it supports both XInput and DirectInput. The stick connects via USB (Type-C to Type-A) and weighs about 1.1 kg. A twin-stick configuration requires purchasing two units. The product is licensed under the PlayStation Official License Program, though it lacks adaptive triggers, motion sensing, vibration, and audio functions.
Jun 17
HORI opened product pages for a flight stick compatible with Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve on June 17. The peripheral launches in October 2026 for 21,980 yen on PS5, PS4, and Windows PC. It uses a Hall sensor, a High-G button for instant turns, and supports twin-stick mode with two units.
Jun 8
Capcom's Street Fighter 6, boosted by the announcement of Year 4 characters including Tifa from Final Fantasy VII and a 50% discount, reached first place in the Steam sales rankings for the week of June 8, 2026. Forza Horizon 6 held second place, while Wuthering Waves, amid a Cyberpunk collaboration, ranked third. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve debuted at tenth place ahead of its October release.
Jun 7
Automaton's 85th weekly roundup highlights seven notable game articles, including the October 2 release of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve with a pre-order bonus port of Ace Combat Zero, the announcement of Monster Hunter Wilds large DLC Ascendance featuring Kushala Daora and Lao-Shan Lung, and Palworld's official release on July 10 with its biggest update.
Jun 4
The character Tasha Seversky from the upcoming flight shooter Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has become a trending topic on social media, with fans calling her 'too cute' and expressing excitement to meet her in the game. Tasha is a female pilot from the Joker squadron's 3rd aircraft, a star pilot of the acrobatic team Zvezda, who gets caught up in a war during a promotional video shoot. The game launches October 2, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Jun 3
Bandai Namco Entertainment opened pre-orders on June 3 for two special editions of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve at Premium Bandai. The Collector's Box costs 15,730 yen and the Ace of Aces Box costs 39,600 yen, both shipping in September ahead of the game's October 2 release.
Jun 2
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced during Sony's State of Play livestream on June 3 that Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will launch on October 2 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The game is the latest entry in the Ace Combat series, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Players take the role of a fighter pilot rescued at sea by the aging aircraft carrier Endurance, belonging to the Federation of Central Usea. The player is entrusted with the legendary ace known as the Wings of Seave, a symbol of hope, and must reclaim lost territory alongside three new companions. The game is developed by Bandai Namco Aces Inc., a studio formed in July 2022 by Bandai Namco Entertainment and ILCA, and is built on Unreal Engine 5. A port of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War will be included as a pre-order bonus for the digital version and as an early purchase bonus for the physical version. Early access for the Deluxe Edition begins on September 29.
Jun 2
Game Spark reports that the third installment of Final Fantasy VII Remake, along with Persona 4 Revival and Ace Combat 8, may receive updates at June 2026 game events including Summer Game Fest, State of Play, and the Xbox Games Showcase. Director Naoki Hamaguchi said in February that the team plans to share more information this year.