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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.