Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve

Story and setting

The campaign is set in July 2029, in Ace Combat’s fictional Strangereal universe. The Federation of Central Usea has been overrun by the Republic of Sotoa, with the FCU capital, Theve, occupied and its armed forces scattered. The ageing aircraft carrier Endurance has withdrawn from the front line carrying refugees and what remains of the FCU Navy.

After being found adrift at sea, the player character is taken aboard the Endurance and given the name Wings of Theve. The title once belonged to a supposedly legendary ace, but that legend was created to keep morale alive rather than record a real hero. You must now carry the name into battle alongside three pilots known as Joker Flight: Baxter, Tasha and Coster. Their objective is to resist Sotoa and reclaim the FCU.

The campaign is built around first-person cinematic scenes between sorties, squad relationships and decisions made during the war. The story trailer also introduced the rival Sotoan unit Shadow 22, whose leader is positioned as a major opponent for the Wings of Theve.

How it plays

Wings of Theve remains an arcade-style flight shooter rather than a traditional simulation. Its controls are designed around fast manoeuvres, missile evasion and high-G turns, with 360-degree freedom of movement and a mixture of cockpit and wider flight views. Dynamic weather and layered cloud systems can affect visibility and the feel of a sortie, while missions cover air combat, ground attack and anti-ship operations.

The aircraft roster combines real-world fighters with original Ace Combat designs. Before each mission, you can select an aircraft, special weapons and upgrade parts suited to the objective. Wingmen are more directly involved than in recent entries, with real-time attack and cover commands. Massive superweapons are another central feature, including land-based and airborne threats designed around the series’ familiar giant-scale set pieces.

The 14 September story showcase confirmed the return of Annihilation Battle. In the demonstrated mission, players attack several facilities within a time limit, choose the order of targets, destroy chains of enemies and use supply lines to replenish weapons. That structure gives more room for tactical decisions than a straightforward route through a mission.

Online mode

ACE COMBAT ONLINE is a separate multiplayer mode with its own progression and save data. It supports cross-play between PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, and begins with a customisable mercenary pilot in an Air Base social lobby that can accommodate up to 100 players.

The main activities include Co-Op Assault, where two teams of four compete against AI forces, and Co-Op Warfare, a PvPvE mode in which two teams of four fight each other while also dealing with computer-controlled land, sea and air units. Limited-time events include four-versus-four team battles, eight-player deathmatch, four-player Scramble missions and eight-player Emergency Sorties against series superweapons. The Air Base also includes training, chat, a virtual arcade and a jukebox.

Trailers and showcases

The 2 June 2026 release-date trailer confirmed the 2 October launch, introduced squadmates Baxter, Tasha and Coster, and revealed the Ace Style system returning from Ace Combat Zero. That system tracks how you approach missions and the choices made in battle. The 4 June walkthrough focused on 360-degree flight, weather, wingman commands, aircraft customisation and battles against colossal enemies.

Bandai Namco’s 1 September Online 101 showcase explained the 100-player Air Base, cross-play, co-operative missions, PvPvE battles, progression and seasonal Ace Pass rewards. The 14 September story trailer showed life aboard the Endurance, Shadow 22, Sotoan ace battles and giant superweapons, while PlayStation also confirmed the details of Annihilation Battle. The 29 September launch material reiterated the game’s Unreal Engine 5 technology, real-world aircraft, dynamic weather and large-scale online mode.

Platforms, editions and UK price

Wings of Theve launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam. The UK digital Standard Edition costs £64.99 on PlayStation and Xbox, or £54.99 on Steam. The Deluxe Edition is £84.99 on PlayStation and Xbox, or £74.99 on Steam. Physical PS5 and Xbox copies are available from participating UK retailers, where prices and stock can differ from the digital stores.

The Standard Edition contains the base game. Pre-ordering before launch adds the playable F-14A and a port of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, the 2006 PlayStation 2 game. Deluxe adds three-day early access, a Customisable Cosmetic Set and a Premium Ace Pass Plus voucher. The Joker Flight Pack includes the Deluxe content, two soundtrack vinyl records, a slipmat and the 208-page Aces at War: A History 2029 artbook. The Premium Joker Flight Pack adds an XXL LED gaming mousemat and a woven patch; Bandai Namco Europe currently lists it as a PC Steam package.

Should you pre-order?

The main reason to pre-order is the Ace Combat Zero port, which is included with every edition bought before launch, alongside the F-14A. Deluxe is aimed at players who want early access and the first Premium Ace Pass season, as well as the cosmetic extras. The Standard Edition is the cleaner option if you mainly want the campaign and do not need seasonal online rewards.

On console, online play requires PlayStation Plus on PS5 or an Xbox Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate subscription. Those subscriptions provide access to online multiplayer but do not include the game itself.