Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Launches October 2, Includes Zero Port as Bonus
By bundling a port of Ace Combat Zero as a purchase incentive, Bandai Namco is directly tying the new game's narrative and setting to one of the series' most acclaimed entries, a move that signals the studio is betting on nostalgia to drive pre-orders for the 30th anniversary title.
Reporting from 4 sources: 4Gamer.net, GAME Watch (Impress), Automaton, Game Spark.
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced during Sony's State of Play stream on June 3 that Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will launch on October 2, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The game is the latest mainline entry in the Ace Combat series, developed by Bandai Namco Aces Inc. on Unreal Engine 5. It is set in the same world as Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, following a fighter pilot rescued by the aging aircraft carrier Endurance after being adrift at sea. The player is entrusted with the legendary ace aircraft Wings of Theve, named after the capital city of the Federation of Central Usea. The story involves reclaiming lost territory alongside three new comrades. As a pre-order bonus for the digital version and an early purchase bonus for the physical version, a port of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War will be included. Early access begins September 29.
Bandai Namco Entertainment revealed Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve during Sony Interactive Entertainment's State of Play broadcast on June 3, 2026. The game is developed by Bandai Namco Aces Inc., a studio formed in July 2022 by Bandai Namco Entertainment and ILCA, and runs on Unreal Engine 5. The story places the player as a fighter pilot rescued from a lifeboat by the aging aircraft carrier Endurance, a vessel belonging to the Federation of Central Usea (FCU) that is fleeing the front lines with evacuees after its home navy was nearly destroyed. The player is given the legendary ace aircraft Wings of Theve, named after the FCU capital, and must reclaim lost territory alongside three new comrades. The game introduces a new enemy type: ground battleships. The announcement also confirmed that a port of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War will be included as a pre-order bonus for the digital version and an early purchase bonus for the physical version. Early access for the game begins on September 29, three days before the full launch.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 4 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- 4Gamer.net 「ACE COMBAT 8：WINGS OF THEVE」の発売日が10月2日に決定。早期購入特典やプレオーダー特典として「エースコンバット・ゼロ ザ・ベルカン・ウォー」を付属
- GAME Watch (Impress) 「エスコン」シリーズ最新作「ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE」が10月2日発売決定！【State of Play】
- Automaton 『エースコンバット8 WINGS OF THEVE』10月2日発売へ。『ゼロ』と世界を同じくする新作、なんと『ゼロ』移植版が予約特典に
- Game Spark 『ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE』発売は2026年10月2日！早期予約特典に『エースコンバット・ゼロ』も付属【State of Play】