Few game franchises capture the fantasy of becoming an ace pilot quite like Ace Combat – with accessible arcade-like controls, beautiful looking fighter jets, and cinematic storytelling, it has long been a recipe for a good time for over 30 years. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve returns us to that world of soaring spectacle starting October 2 for XBOX Series X|S with even deeper aircraft customization and more epic set pieces along with a squadron whose personalities bring added weight to every mission.
As you can tell by the trailer footage and screenshots, Ace Combat 8 is an incredible looking game. The work put into the new cloud layer tech really brings the sky to life, as well as the touches on the ground environments that show off some extraordinary attention to detail. Buildings and trees are easily identifiable, and the shape of the canyon terrain is impressive when flying through these large gameplay maps. Same goes for the interior and exterior of the carrier Endurance, your primary home base throughout the game, which shows its wear and tear with pride during the campaign as a floating island of refuge.
But it’s the aircraft, as always, who are the stars of the show – and they’re just as impressive as ever. This game is truly a visual marvel, one that shines a light on the beautiful mechanical design of fighter jets, from the swept-wing F-14 Tomcat to the brash-but-beautiful A-10 Warthog. And for good reason – they’re front-and-center throughout the campaign. Yes, there are alternate in-cockpit views available for each aircraft, but I kept the external camera as my primary so I could see these majestic machines in action during my missions.
There are over 30 aircraft featured in the game, and as you progress through the campaign you earn in-game credits to spend on unlocking additional planes and upgrades in the aircraft tree; completing additional objectives can net you more credits to spend. You can bet I was taking every opportunity to mop up some additional ground targets on each mission to help fill my wallet.
There are four main types of aircraft that you can acquire, and they each have a role to play on the missions: Fighters (combat), Multirole (versatile), Attacker (ground attack), and Electronic Warfare (buffer/support). You’re not wrong in thinking that sounds like a prime recipe for a good dungeon crawling party, as bringing a balanced, multi-role fighter group into the missions is one of the keys to success that I found.
Before each sortie, you’re given a lot of flexibility in not only the makeup of the fighter group you put together, but also in terms of upgrades you can apply to your craft like improved maneuverability, acceleration, and targeting improvements that make each mission feel that much more unique and opens up a lot of replayability potential. Want to take Prowler on a mission in a support role, or mop up ground targets in an A-10 while your wingmen cover you? That’s completely on the table.
Having now played through the first 10 campaign missions, I found them all incredibly fun and robust, giving you a mix of everything from escort missions, bombing runs, air-to-air combat, mixed in with some incredible set pieces like taking out a land battleship or protecting your fragile carrier fleet. Each mission has felt distinct and unique, with its own challenges to manage, and in-flight decision making that can help turn the tide of battle.
If you need help getting your bearings, Ace Combat 8 also offers a series of progressively challenging training missions to help you get used to the controls – personally, I’m pretty adept at these types of games, so I didn’t dabble too much into this feature, but I appreciate the work put in to make this game as accessible as possible to help newer pilots earn their wings.
That’s good because combat in Ace Combat 8 really tests your ability to understand some basic rules about dogfighting and air combat – it’s far more involved than simply pointing and shooting. Beyond the obvious (don’t hit the ground), being able to manage your aircraft’s speed and positioning to enemy aircraft is key to coming out on top, especially against some of the harder foes you face off with when it starts to feel like a chess match in the skies, trying to anticipate the enemy’s next move.
I also really liked the interactions with Joker Flight throughout my time with Ace Combat 8, who helped bring an emotional weight to the storyline that feeds into each mission. There’s the patient veteran Professor, the spunky civilian-turned-pilot Tasha, and the reclusive musician Noise who are with you nearly every step of the way. They’re more than just chatter over the radio, as they’re all very capable shots helping take out objectives and to clear bogeys off my six.
They’re also incredibly good at following orders. You can issue commands to them via the d-pad: Up is forward attack (attack my target), Left is dispersed attack (fire at will), Down is support (cover me), and Right is special weapons clearance (high damage). Not only does that help throughout the game’s missions, but it makes the crew much more tangible as the stakes is raised in the latter missions of the campaign. I found myself really coming to rely on them as the difficulty of the missions progressed, and it was great seeing them assist in taking out some of the larger, more complex objectives.
Between missions is when the characters take center stage. In previous entries, the story largely played out with a briefing map and cinematic cutscenes. Now the story is told from a first-person perspective using the in-game engine, as you hear directly from Joker Flight, tour the carrier deck, sit down in the mess hall, or enjoy some downtime watching a band play. If there was a single feature to highlight about what makes Ace Combat 8 different from previous entries, Joker Flight is that strong differentiating factor that makes you want to continue playing in order to find out what comes next – and who is going to make it back home when all is said and done.
And that’s what keeps me thinking about how much I enjoyed my time with the newest entry in this long-running series. It has always looked good, but now it looks great. The stakes have always felt high, but now they feel like they matter. Your wingmen were present, but now they feel tangible. Across the board, it’s a masterclass in finding new and inventive ways to improve upon their excellent previous entry. You don’t want to miss it.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve launches October 2 for XBOX Series X|S and is available for pre-order today on the XBOX Store. Pick up Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Deluxe Edition to start playing September 28 in early access plus a copy of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, available for the first time on XBOX Series X|S.
ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE Deluxe Edition Pre-Order
Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.
– Playable Aircraft: F-14A
– ACE COMBAT ZERO: THE BELKAN WAR (Xbox Series X|S Version)
– 3-Day Early Access
*Early Access is scheduled to begin on September 28, 2026 at 3:00 PM (PDT)
*Release date, contents and specifications are subject to change without notice.
*Bonuses other than ACE COMBAT ZERO: THE BELKAN WAR (Xbox Series X|S Version) may be released at a later date.
*ACE COMBAT ZERO: THE BELKAN WAR was also known as ACE COMBAT: THE BELKAN WAR in some regions.
*ACE COMBAT ZERO: THE BELKAN WAR (Xbox Series X|S Version) Supported Languages: Japanese, English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish. Please be aware of potential language differences from ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE when purchasing.
The Deluxe Edition includes:
– ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE
– Customizable Cosmetic Set
– PREMIUM ACE PASS PLUS Voucher
ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE delivers high-octane aerial action!
Step into the cockpit and take flight as an elite pilot across stunning skies. Enter intense dogfights, eliminate threats, and rise through gripping missions to earn your wings in this game developed by PROJECT ACES, the acclaimed team behind the franchise.
Aerial Warfare in Living Skies.
Campaign Mode showcases stunning visuals with dynamic multi-layered cloudscapes that capture the majesty of living skies. Feel the rush of fast-paced arcade-style gameplay while deploying powerful weapons to dominate the battlefield.
A visceral journey from cockpit to ground.
Beyond the chaos in the air, exhilarating first-person scenes reveal your pilot’s story through breathtaking cinematics. Experience the pressure of command, the weight of decisions, and the bonds forged in battle. Between missions, bond with your squad members, rise to meet adversity, and prove yourself as a true ace.
The Largest Online Mode of the Series
ACE COMBAT ONLINE delivers the most expansive multiplayer experience in franchise history. Step into the series’ first online lobby, explore an air base with your custom avatar before diving into multiplayer games. Sortie into online missions with pilots worldwide in a variety of modes including Co-Op and cross platform play.
*This is the Deluxe Edition of the game. A Standard Edition is also available. Please take care to avoid duplicate purchases.
—-
ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE
& ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
CORE IMAGERY – VIEW-READY © 2025 Vantor.
All trademarks and copyrights associated with the manufacturers, aircraft, models, trade names, brands and visual images depicted in this game are the property of their respective owners, and used with such permissions.
Produced under license. BOEING and all Boeing product names, logos, brands, and their distinctive markings and trade dress are trademarks of The Boeing Company.
Copyright Dassault Aviation 2026 ©
Eurofighter Typhoon is one of the leading combat aircraft in the world. Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH.
Produced in cooperation with Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
Lockheed Martin Trademarks used under license to Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
The Northrop Grumman name, logos, aircraft, and content are trademarks and copyrights of Northrop Grumman.
Copyright SAAB AB
Produced under license. Bell and all Bell product names, logos, brands, and their distinctive markings and trade dress are trademarks of Textron Innovations Inc.
ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE Pre-Order
Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.
– Playable Aircraft: F-14A
– ACE COMBAT ZERO: THE BELKAN WAR (Xbox Series X|S Version)
*Release date, contents and specifications are subject to change without notice.
*Bonuses other than ACE COMBAT ZERO: THE BELKAN WAR (Xbox Series X|S Version) may be released at a later date.
*ACE COMBAT ZERO: THE BELKAN WAR was also known as ACE COMBAT: THE BELKAN WAR in some regions.
*ACE COMBAT ZERO: THE BELKAN WAR (Xbox Series X|S Version) Supported Languages: Japanese, English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish. Please be aware of potential language differences from ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE when purchasing.
ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE delivers high-octane aerial action!
Step into the cockpit and take flight as an elite pilot across stunning skies. Enter intense dogfights, eliminate threats, and rise through gripping missions to earn your wings in this game developed by PROJECT ACES, the acclaimed team behind the franchise.
Aerial Warfare in Living Skies.
Campaign Mode showcases stunning visuals with dynamic multi-layered cloudscapes that capture the majesty of living skies. Feel the rush of fast-paced arcade-style gameplay while deploying powerful weapons to dominate the battlefield.
A visceral journey from cockpit to ground.
Beyond the chaos in the air, exhilarating first-person scenes reveal your pilot’s story through breathtaking cinematics. Experience the pressure of command, the weight of decisions, and the bonds forged in battle. Between missions, bond with your squad members, rise to meet adversity, and prove yourself as a true ace.
The Largest Online Mode of the Series
ACE COMBAT ONLINE delivers the most expansive multiplayer experience in franchise history. Step into the series’ first online lobby, explore an air base with your custom avatar before diving into multiplayer games. Sortie into online missions with pilots worldwide in a variety of modes including Co-Op and cross platform play.
*This is the Standard Edition of the game. A Deluxe Edition is also available. Please take care to avoid duplicate purchases.
—-
ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE& ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
CORE IMAGERY – VIEW-READY © 2025 Vantor.
All trademarks and copyrights associated with the manufacturers, aircraft, models, trade names, brands and visual images depicted in this game are the property of their respective owners, and used with such permissions.
Produced under license. BOEING and all Boeing product names, logos, brands, and their distinctive markings and trade dress are trademarks of The Boeing Company.
Copyright Dassault Aviation 2026 ©
Eurofighter Typhoon is one of the leading combat aircraft in the world. Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH.
Produced in cooperation with Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
Lockheed Martin Trademarks used under license to Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
The Northrop Grumman name, logos, aircraft, and content are trademarks and copyrights of Northrop Grumman.
Copyright SAAB AB
Produced under license. Bell and all Bell product names, logos, brands, and their distinctive markings and trade dress are trademarks of Textron Innovations Inc.
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