Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Ships In October

The Ace Combat series is renowned and continues to pull impressive numbers with more than half a dozen entries already available. The latest, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, is no different. “Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown returns to the tried and true gameplay of it’s forefathers and delivers a familiar, but solid return for the classic franchise,” reads our review for the 2019 title. We scored it an 8/10 then.

By 2025, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown has accounted for more than six million units sold. So it was no surprise that eventually Bandai Namco would roll out another mainline entry for Ace Combat. Enter in Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve earlier in December at The Game Awards. Bandai Namco officially unveiled the game with a release window for 2026.

Now at the PlayStation State of Play, it is revealed that Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is to ship later this October. You can watch the release date trailer in the video below:

“Players will lead The Joker Squadron on a mission to recapture Theve, the capital of the Federation of Central Usea – also known as the FCU,” the plot for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve reads. “Ace Combat 8 takes place in July 2029. The Federation of Central Usea has been suddenly invaded by the neighboring Republic of Sotoa, a swift assault that captures the FCU capital city of Theve.

“What’s left of the FCU military is shattered. The navy lies in ruins. Civilians are displaced, scattered across a country in crisis. You are rescued from the sea by an aging aircraft carrier, Endurance. Long past its prime and withdrawn far from the front lines, the ship may be obsolete—but this is where your story begins.” Pre-ordering also grants players Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War as well as a playable F-14A Tomcat aircraft.

Are you excited to return to the world of Ace Combat this fall?

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve launches on October 2, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.

Source: PlayStation Blog