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Ace Combat 8: Wings of Thieve is an upcoming combat flight simulator game that is the closest to a real flight simulator I have ever seen. And this is not the first time. For more than 30 years, the Ace Combat series has provided some of the most thrilling aerial battle games.
The upcoming game is a huge step forward, refining its aerial combat, battles, and storytelling. The game is going to be developed by Bandai Namco Aces and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. This is the eighth game in the series after Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Arcade Flight Combat |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 |

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Thieve is set in a fictional universe where Earth has completely different nations with their own geography. The whole story is based on the 2028 Sotoa-Usea War that takes place on the continent of Usea.
Jan Rex Cope is in command of the Wings of Thieve. After he is killed in action, the protagonist, who was his weapon systems officer, has to take the place of the legendary ace pilot. He is not only under pressure to take his place but also has to lead his squadron. He is working under the Federation of Central Usea to fight and reclaim his country.

The story is going to be told from a first-person perspective, and the controls are arcade flight-style. Apart from that, the core of the game is dodging missiles, attacking with missiles, and precision flying.
There are more than 30 aircraft, each with its own unique role, such as fighters, attack aircraft, multirole aircraft, and electronic warfare aircraft. When you play the game, everything is shown on the screen, such as weapon configurations and the next step in the mission.
The game is not going to be repetitive because every mission has its own unique scenarios. There could be multiple-objective missions, dynamic battles, air-to-air combat, or even air-to-ground strikes. One thing I saw in the trailer was a giant military target. And don’t forget, you have to do all of this alongside teammates, which is going to make the gameplay more interactive.
Like in Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War, you can order your squadron wingmen to attack enemies.
At the beginning of the game, there are more than 30 aircraft that players can choose from. These aircraft are divided into four categories. Every category has its own unique abilities and weaknesses. This means there are specific weak points that need to be targeted to deal damage to enemies.
How you play Ace Combat 8: Wings of Thieveand what kind of actions you take have an effect on the survival of non-player characters and even some parts of the story.

If we talk about graphics, we can see stunning weather effects with dynamic clouds and advanced lighting. The map of the game is massive.
Personally, I think the success of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Thieve comes from its storytelling, how unique the missions are, and the cinematic graphics.

| Feature | Ace Combat 8 | Ace Combat 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics | Unreal Engine 5 | Unreal Engine 4 |
| Story | New FCU Campaign | Lighthouse War |
| Squad System | Expanded | Limited |
| Aircraft | New & Returning Jets | Large Selection |
| Scale | Larger Battles | Large Battles |

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Thieve was announced at The Game Awards in December 2025. The game is expected to be released on PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on October 2, 2026.
It is said that the team focused on three pillars: air combat gameplay, photorealistic visuals, and storytelling. The team uses a new technology known as “Cloudly” to recreate realistic environments.
To ensure that the game respected realism, they visited air force bases and interviewed pilots. On top of that, the game does not scale down the size of real-world objects. They remain the same size in both the game and the real world.

When does Ace Combat 8 release?
The game is scheduled to release on October 2, 2026.
Does Ace Combat 8 feature multiplayer?
Yes, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Thieve is going to have multiplayer.

Personally, I think Ace Combat 8: Wings of Thieve is going to do well. I have seen the trailer and the gameplay, and it is amazing.




