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Ace Combat 8 Wings Of Theve

Facts

Release
game · 2026-10-02 · 2026-06-03
Release
game · September 28 to October 4 · Japan · 2026-10-12
Release
game · 2026-10-02 · Japan and North America · 2026-10-03
Release
game · 2026-10-02 · worldwide · 2026-06-02
Release
game · 2026-09-29 · worldwide · 2026-10-03
Release
game · October 2 · 2026-09-01
Release
game · October 2 · 2026-06-07
Noted
Game*Spark reviewed Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve · 2026-10-05
Noted
the story follows Lieutenant Colonel Jean Cope, called "Wings of Theve," during the Republic of Sotoa's invasion of the Usean continent · 2026-10-05
Noted
the campaign has more than 20 missions · 2026-10-05
Noted
a full run took over 20 hours · 2026-10-05
Noted
the game runs on Unreal Engine 5 plus the volumetric cloud engine Cloudly · 2026-10-05
Noted
No. 1 on this week's Steam sales ranking for a second week · 2026-10-05
Noted
user reviews rated Very Positive · 2026-10-05
Noted
The campaign is set in 2029 in the Strangereal world, ten years after the previous numbered entry · 2026-10-03
Noted
follows the Central Usean Federation after an invasion by the Republic of Sotoa · 2026-10-03
Noted
Online play branded Ace Combat Online casts players as mercenaries of I3 · 2026-10-03
Noted
The mode is positioned as the game's end content and the largest online mode in series history. · 2026-09-01
Noted
Players take the role of mercenary pilots gathering at an air base lobby where up to 100 players can connect at once. · 2026-09-01
Noted
CooP Assault is a PvE mode in which two teams of four cooperate on missions and compete for high scores. · 2026-09-01
Noted
CooP Warfare is a PvPvE mode in which two teams of four fight each other alongside NPC units. · 2026-09-01
Noted
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. · 2026-09-01
Noted
Reaching three stars marks a player as an ace aircraft. · 2026-09-01
Noted
Emergency Sortie is a special mission where eight players face the series' signature giant weapons. · 2026-09-01
Noted
Scramble is a special mission, a four-player fight against NPC rival units. · 2026-09-01
Noted
The online mode introduces the series' first persistent lobby and its largest end content, a structural addition to a franchise that has not had a numbered entry in seven years. · 2026-09-01
Noted
makes its first appearance at a domestic game event · 2026-08-06
Noted
requires a numbered ticket distributed at the booth on public days, September 19 to 21 · 2026-08-06
Noted
giving Japanese players their earliest hands-on chance with the series' latest installment before its release · 2026-08-06
Announced
16-minute opening cinematic streamed on Thursday · 2026-10-03
Announced
series' 30th anniversary commemoration · 2026-10-02
Announced
playable demo with three missions at Tokyo Game Show 2026 (Tokyo Game Show 2026) · 2026-09-19
Announced
live-action prequel series Ace Combat Hour Zero · 2026-09-14
Announced
game announcement (Sony's State of Play stream on June 3) · 2026-06-02

Connections

Produces of
hasegawa, bandai namco entertainment

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Claim activity

When a claim about ace combat 8 wings of theve was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.

  • Confirmed game September 28 to October 4 Japan Oct 13 · source
  • Confirmed game announcement Oct 10 · source
  • Confirmed game 2026-10-02 worldwide Oct 10 · source
  • Confirmed game 2026-10-02 Japan and North America Oct 3 · source
  • Confirmed 16-minute opening cinematic streamed on Thursday Oct 3 · source
  • Confirmed series' 30th anniversary commemoration Oct 3 · source
  • Confirmed playable demo with three missions at Tokyo Game Show 2026 Sep 27 · source
  • Disputed playable demo with three missions at Tokyo Game Show 2026 Sep 20 · source
  • Confirmed game October 2 Sep 16 · source
  • Confirmed game October 2 Aug 31 · source
  • Confirmed game 2026-10-02 Jun 18 · source
  • Confirmed Bandai Namco Entertainment produces Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Jun 3 · source

All coverage

6d ago

Hasegawa Plans 1/72 Su-33 Flanker D Kit For Ace Combat 8's Shadows

Hasegawa will release a 1/72 scale kit of the Su-33 Flanker D flown by Shadows from Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve. The aircraft parts are dark gray, a display stand is included, and the package uses CG imagery. New decals cover the Sotoa Air Force, 1st Special Operations Air Wing, 11th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 44th Flight, Lux Lunae, known as Shadows. The finished kit measures 305.5 mm long and costs 5,500 yen, scheduled for release on Wednesday, December 16, 2026.

Oct 12

Ace Combat 8 Tops Japan's Game Rankings For September 28 To October 4

Famitsu's chart for September 28 to October 4 has Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve at No. 1 in its first week on PS5 with 63,013 copies. Dynasty Warriors 3 Remastered Complete Edition follows on PS5 at 18,724, and Rhythm Heaven Groove is third at 15,894, bringing its running total to 1,065,816. New entries also include Minecraft Dungeons II, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and Ghost of Yotei Complete Edition.

Oct 5

Ace Combat 8 Review Details 20-Hour Campaign And 20 Missions

Game*Spark reviewed Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, due October 2 from Bandai Namco Entertainment. The review reports the story follows Lieutenant Colonel Jean Cope, called "Wings of Theve," during the Republic of Sotoa's invasion of the Usean continent. It says the campaign has more than 20 missions, a full run took over 20 hours, and the game runs on Unreal Engine 5 plus the volumetric cloud engine Cloudly.

Oct 5

ACE COMBAT 8 Holds No. 1 As Dynasty Warriors 2 Remastered Debuts On Steam

ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE is No. 1 on this week's Steam sales ranking for a second week, with user reviews rated Very Positive. Apex Legends is No. 2 and AION 2 is No. 3. Koei Tecmo's Dynasty Warriors 2 with Xtreme Legends Remastered debuts at No. 5. The chart was surveyed at 13:00 on October 5, 2026, during the Autumn Sale.

Oct 3

Bandai Namco Sees Path To Standalone Ace Combat Zero On Steam

Bandai Namco Entertainment says there is now a prospect of changing how the pre-order bonus for the Steam version of ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE is delivered. The bonus, a port of ACE COMBAT ZERO: THE BELKAN WAR, launches as a standalone game on the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions of Ace Combat 8. On Steam it is provided as a DLC executable that requires the main game to be installed, so it cannot be launched on its own. The company said licensing restrictions and platform-side specifications prevent standalone distribution on Steam at present. In an update on the night of October 2, the day Ace Combat 8 released, Bandai Namco said it has continued talks with platform partners and related companies and is now considering a standalone app format, with the specific implementation and timing still under review. The port has no plans for standalone sale and is offered only through the Ace Combat 8 pre-order and physical early purchase bonus.

Oct 3

This Week's New Game Releases Led By ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE

Four outlets rounded up the games launching in Japan and North America between September 28 and October 3, 2026, and Bandai Namco Entertainment's ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE sits at the top of the pile. The flight shooter arrives October 2 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S at 9,790 yen for the standard edition, with a DELUXE EDITION priced at 11,990 yen and early access on September 29. The same week brings Mojang Studios and Double Eleven's Minecraft Dungeons II on September 29 at 4,730 yen for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and Nintendo Switch, with Xbox Game Pass support, plus The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered on the same day for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2, and a Remastered edition of the Dynasty Warriors 2 package on October 1. Free-to-play entries Apex Legends and Animo place second and third on the Steam sales chart.

Oct 3

Ace Combat 8 Opens With 16-Minute Cinematic Ahead Of October 2 Launch

Bandai Namco Entertainment will release Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve on October 2 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, with a Deluxe Edition arriving September 29. The publisher streamed a 16-minute opening cinematic on Thursday. The campaign is set in 2029 in the Strangereal world, ten years after the previous numbered entry, and follows the Central Usean Federation after an invasion by the Republic of Sotoa. The player flies for the Joker Squadron aboard the old carrier Endurance, carrying the name of the legendary ace Wings of Sheave. Three wingmen join the fight. Online play, branded Ace Combat Online, casts players as mercenaries of an organization called I3 and splits missions into co-op, co-op with versus elements, and pure versus formats. Pre-orders include a port of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.

Oct 2

ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE Launches For PS5, Xbox Series X|S, And Steam

Bandai Namco Entertainment released ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE on October 2, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. The game is the latest numbered entry in the flight shooting series, sold at prices starting from 9,790 yen. The protagonist carries the name of the legendary ace Wings of Theve and works with three new companions to retake a stolen homeland. The title ships with a campaign mode and an online mode that the publisher describes as the largest in the series. It commemorates the series' 30th anniversary. Bandai Namco built the game on Cloudly, an independently developed engine that renders wide skies and layered cloud formations.

Sep 19

Ace Combat 8 Returns to Tokyo Game Show with Three Playable Missions

Bandai Namco Entertainment brought ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE to Tokyo Game Show 2026 as a playable build inside a five-title booth in Hall 5. The demo offers three missions, and the article's author chose "11 Maximum Payload," an air-to-air sortie against a group of intercontinental transport aircraft called Podarge, which fly with electronic warfare aircraft that jam radar.

Sep 14

Ace Combat Hour Zero Prequel Series Streams On IGN Ahead Of Ace Combat 8 Launch

Bandai Namco Entertainment began streaming a trailer on Monday for Ace Combat Hour Zero, a live-action prequel series for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve. IGN will stream four episodes on September 15, 17, 23, and 29, each running 6 to 11 minutes. Josh Holloway, Brandon Routh, and Tamlyn Tomita star. The game launches October 2 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

Sep 1

Ace Combat 8 Trailer Reveals Largest Online Mode in Series History

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 6

Bandai Namco Brings Ace Combat 8 and More to Tokyo Game Show 2026

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.

Jun 17

Hori Announces Ace Combat 8 Flight Stick With Magnetic Hall-Effect Sensors

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 7

Automaton's Weekly Roundup: Ace Combat 8 Release Date, Monster Hunter Wilds DLC, and More

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 2

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Launches October 2, Includes Zero as Pre-Order Bonus

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.