Bandai Namco confirms an October launch, with early access beginning days before release.
Get ready to step into the cockpit, as Bandai Namco’s Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has finally locked in a release date. The date was revealed via a trailer released during the 2026 PlayStation State of Play earlier today.
Ace Combat 8 is now confirmed for release on 2 October, with early access available from 29 September for Deluxe Edition owners. The game will launch on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.
Watch the release date trailer below:
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve
Release date: 29 September (Early Access), 2 October
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam
Developer: Bandai Namco Aces Inc.
Price: US$70
What is Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve about?
Ace Combat is best known for its arcade-style aerial combat, cinematic visuals, fast-paced dogfights and manoeuvres, as well as its compelling storytelling. For those already familiar with the series, you can expect all that familiar aerial adrenaline, but with new content and enhancements set in the fictional world of Strangereal.
In this campaign, you step into the shoes of an elite pilot as you fight to defend your homeland from the Republic of Sotoa’s invasion. While previous trailers have showcased Ace Combat 8’s gameplay and visuals, the new trailer revealed during State of Play further introduced your squadron mates.
You will command Joker Squadron, featuring the calm and knowledgeable Ellington Baxter, the acrobatic Tasha Seversky, and the die-hard rock music fan William Coster. These will be your closest allies throughout the campaign as you work together to recapture Theve, the capital of the Federation of Central Usea.
The PlayStation Blog unveiled further details about Ace Combat 8. New techniques such as “ground attack” and “anti-ship” combat were highlighted, allowing players to destroy targets from above.
The post also teased more major additions to the eighth instalment in the series, “The most unique combat of the Ace Combat series lies in the ‘giant weapon battles’, which highlight weapons that can only be encountered in Strangereal. Players can look forward to battles against unique weapons, such as massive continental transport aircraft and land-based ships capable of bringing an entire country within ‘main gun range’.”
Players will have the opportunity to pilot more than 30 different aircrafts, ranging from real-world fighter jets to fictional models. There will be four aircraft categories–fighters, attack aircraft, multirole aircraft, and electronic warfare aircraft–which players will need to select carefully depending on the mission.
Players can also expect to encounter the massive “Land Battleship”, one of the game’s boss encounters, capable of unleashing devastating attacks. “Lead Joker Squadron to victory by dodging its massive main gun attacks,” the blog post stated.
Ace Combat 8 is now available for pre-order, retailing at US$70 for the Standard Edition and US$90 for the Deluxe Edition, which includes early access several days ahead of launch.
