Ace Combat 8 mixes first-person anime story with dogfights

Bandai Namco announced that Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will launch Oct. 2, 2026, on Xbox Series X|S. The Deluxe Edition offers three days of early access beginning Sept. 28, 2026. The game is developed by PROJECT ACES.

Ace Combat 8 places players inside the carrier Endurance and uses in-mission, first-person scenes to present the story. Players act as a fighter pilot assigned to protect a fleet and civilian refugees. Dialogue with squadmates occurs in real time during missions rather than only in cutscenes. Named wingmen include a pink-haired pilot called Tasha and a veteran identified as Professor. An ace pilot figure, Jan Cope, appears as a recurring narrator and describes himself as “just a normal guy.”

Gameplay keeps the series’ arcade-style focus and offers two selectable flight models. Standard mode maintains aircraft stability during combat, while expert mode allows fuller maneuvering for players who prefer tighter handling. Speed and altitude affect handling and combat outcomes. Aircraft models show increased visual detail, including fuselage textures, and the game uses multi-layered cloud rendering that can create obstacles during engagements.

Bandai Namco describes the online component as the franchise’s largest multiplayer mode. For the first time the series will offer an online lobby where players can move a custom avatar around an air base before joining co-op and competitive matches. Multiplayer modes include cross-platform play for matchmaking and cooperative sorties.

Pre-orders include a digital copy of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War (Xbox Series X|S version) and a playable F-14A aircraft. The Deluxe Edition bundles the base game with a customizable cosmetic set and a PREMIUM ACE PASS PLUS voucher, and grants early access starting Sept. 28, 2026. Bandai Namco lists supported languages for the included legacy title and notes licensing partnerships with real-world aircraft manufacturers used for imagery in the game.

Ace Combat 8 remains set in the Strangereal universe and includes familiar fictional continents such as Osea and Belka. Bandai Namco confirmed the Xbox Series X|S launch and provided the release and pre-order details above.