Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. released the dramatic flight shooting game, ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE, on Friday, October 2, 2026.
The platforms are PlayStation 5, XBOX Series X|S, and Steam.
Note: This article is based on information released in Japan. For campaign details in each country or region, please refer to the respective local official websites.
ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE Released Worldwide on October 2!
ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE, the latest entry in the Ace Combat series celebrating its 30th anniversary, was released on PlayStation 5, XBOX Series X|S, and Steam on Friday, October 2, 2026!
This title is a popular flight shooting game boasting over 21 million units shipped worldwide throughout the series.
Players become ace pilots themselves, freely soaring across vast skies with realistic immersion, enjoying the exhilarating sensation of shooting down enemy aircraft one after another and the heroic experience of overcoming difficult crises.
Story
“ACES WEB” Official ACE COMBAT Series WebsiteYou’re a fighter pilot, adrift at sea in a rescue boat until the outdated aircraft carrier, Endurance, pulls you aboard.
Your homeland’s navy is shattered. The aging vessel, its decks crowded with refugees, has already retreated far from the front lines.
July 2029: The Federation of Central Usea (FCU) has fallen under a lightning invasion by the Republic of Sotoa. Most of the
nation is occupied, the military is scattered, and the Endurance is just one fragment of what remains.
On this ship, you’re given a single name: “Wings of Theve”. A legendary ace, a symbol of hope, a name tied to Theve, the FCU capital.
But that legend was a lie; it was a story made to keep morale alive.
Now, you must carry that name and take to the skies again. With three new comrades at your side, fight to reclaim your lost homeland.
The Evolved World of ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE
Drawn into the Pilot's Story
Offering a brand-new ground-level pilot experience through realistic cinematic scenes where first-person camera controls are available.
In an immersive atmosphere where you feel as if you are right there, you can experience the sense of accomplishment of overcoming numerous difficult situations alongside comrades to become a true ace pilot.
Even Richer Sky Depictions
A vast expanse of sky spanning 10,000 square kilometers is realistically and beautifully reproduced using the proprietary in-house engine Cloudly.
Multi-layered clouds, contrails, and even sunlight reflecting off the canopy naturally act as in-game cues that engage the player's senses, further heightening the thrill of shooting down enemy aircraft.
Exhilarating High-Flying Combat
You can experience exhilarating dogfights, flying freely across the world and utilizing a wide variety of weaponry to have enemy aircraft and weaponry shot down, destroyed, and wiped out one after another.
Real Combat Aircraft Crafted in Lifelike Detail
Real fighter aircraft from around the world are reproduced with precision down to the finest details, featuring visuals easily mistaken for live-action footage.
It delivers overwhelming quality that makes you feel as though you have climbed into a real fighter jet.
Comment from Ace Combat Series Brand Director Kazutoki Kono
Today, October 2, ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE has finally been released simultaneously worldwide.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to PROJECT ACES and the Ace creators who have walked alongside us to this point, everyone involved in this work, and above all, the fans around the world who believed in us and waited for so long.
Thank you all so very much.
As a 30th-anniversary commemorative title, this work traces the trajectory of our flights thus far, embodying all our challenging aspirations and soul under the spirit of "cherishing the old to understand the new."
Connecting the longing for the skies of people around the world regardless of nationality or culture, a brand-new sky that no one has ever seen before has been completed.
All of us truly hope that you enjoy it to your heart's content.
May this be a wonderful flight that you will never forget for the rest of your life.
(Translated from Japanese)
PR TIMES
Commentary and Let's Play by Former JASDF Members and Others Streamed on Game Sampo!
ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE makes an appearance on Game Sampo , the popular YouTube channel where professionals in their respective fields stream and provide commentary on games!
It will be released starting at 7:00 PM on Friday, October 2, 2026.
Welcoming guests Masahiro Utsumi (@JA14WP) of the aerobatic flight team Whiskey Papa and So Maekawa (@maekawa_so), a former Japan Air Self-Defense Force aggressor pilot, genuine stories from a pilot's perspective will unfold.
Official X Follow & Repost Campaign Underway to Win a Gaming Headset!
To commemorate the launch, a follow and repost campaign is underway on the official ACE COMBAT X account (@PROJECT_ACES) to win ASUS's ROG Delta S!
How to Participate
- 1. Follow the official ACE COMBAT X account (@PROJECT_ACES)
- 2. Repost the eligible post
The deadline is Friday, October 9, 2026 at 11:59 PM JST.
Get your hands on a gaming headset and experience the finely tuned sound in high quality!
For more details on this title, please check the official ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE website.
Note: This article is based on information released in Japan. For campaign details in each country or region, please refer to the respective local official websites.
◤￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣
#ACECOMBAT8
10.2 発売記念
プレゼントキャンペーン
＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿◢抽選で8名様にASUS ROG Delta Sをプレゼント！
臨場感あるサウンドで #ACE8 をお楽しみください。①@PROJECT_ACES をフォロー
②この投稿をリポスト
ぜひご応募ください！【応募締切】… pic.twitter.com/IPJ4Nb7qEc
— エースコンバット公式 (@PROJECT_ACES) October 2, 2026
| Title Overview | |
|---|---|
| Title | ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE |
| Release Date | Friday, October 2, 2026 |
| Genre | Dramatic Flight Shooting |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5, XBOX Series X|S, Steam |
| CERO | C |
