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Ace Combat 8 is now available

October 2, 2026 · JoyBuggy Team

A New War Begins

ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE returns players to Strangereal, where the Federation of Central Usea has been devastated by a rapid invasion from the Republic of Sotoa.

Players step into the role of REX, an unknown pilot who inherits the legendary name Wings of Theve after the original ace is lost. What begins as a symbol created to keep hope alive quickly becomes something much more real. Bandai Namco Europe

Life Above and Below the Clouds

The campaign mixes large-scale aerial battles with first-person story sequences between missions.

Players operate from the aging aircraft carrier Endurance, spending time with squad members before returning to combat. These quieter moments are designed to give more weight to the pilots, the war, and the consequences of each mission. Bandai Namco Europe

Fast, Cinematic Aerial Combat

The series keeps its signature arcade-style flying rather than aiming for hardcore flight simulation.

Dogfights take place across detailed environments with layered cloud systems, changing conditions, powerful weapons, and a mix of licensed and fictional aircraft. Project Aces describes the game as the culmination of decades of experience developing the series. Bandai Namco Entertainment

Become the Wings of Theve

At its core, ACE COMBAT 8 is still about becoming an ace pilot against overwhelming odds.

The combination of fast aerial combat, cinematic storytelling, squad relationships and the fictional military world of Strangereal gives this entry a familiar ACE COMBAT identity while pushing the presentation further than previous games.