Overview
- Bandai Namco will release Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve on Oct. 2 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
- Hands-on previews published on Sept. 15 confirm the game keeps the franchise's arcade‑style dogfighting controls and score-driven combat familiar from prior entries.
- Previews highlight specific gameplay changes, including carrying two special weapons, reintroduced squad commands, and encounters with large, radar‑jamming enemy aircraft.
- A new story trailer has been released that shows campaign moments and prompted warnings from outlets that fans who plan to play may want to avoid it to prevent spoilers.
- Bandai Namco has outlined a standalone, seasonal live‑service multiplayer separate from the single‑player campaign, but the mode was not available for media testing and will need post‑launch coverage to confirm how it works.