At a glance:
Release date: October 2, 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam)
Developer / Publisher: Bandai Namco Aces (Project Aces) / Bandai Namco Entertainment
▶ See it on the official Ace Combat site
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is only days away, releasing October 2, 2026. It's the 18th game in the long-running Ace Combat series and the ninth entry in its numbered mainline, following Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, which sold over seven million copies since its 2019 release.
What we know so far
Set in the series' fictional Strangereal universe, the story follows a nameless co-pilot who survives a battle that kills the legendary ace pilot Jan "Rex" Cope — the original "Wings of Theve." To keep the legend alive, the survivor inherits Cope's callsign and takes command of the Joker Flight squadron aboard the carrier Endurance, defending the FCU from a Sotoan invasion.
The biggest structural addition is Ace Combat Online, a full cross-platform multiplayer mode built around two core formats: Co-Op Assault, and Co-Op Warfare, an 4-vs-4 battle where land, sea and air AI units also actively fight alongside each team — described by the publisher as the most expansive multiplayer the series has attempted.
Platforms and access
Wings of Theve releases on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Deluxe and Premium edition buyers get three days of early access before the general release.
Why it matters
Ace Combat games don't launch often — this is the first numbered entry in seven years. A dedicated persistent online mode is also a first for a series that's historically stayed close to its single-player arcade-flight roots.
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