Bandai Namco used its signature flair for spectacle at The Game Awards to reveal Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, the first mainline sequel in seven years and a major generational leap for the long-running flight-action series. The announcement dropped immediately after a thunderous audio-visual intro, transitioning into the debut trailer “Fall of Wings,” which showcases the fastest, flashiest look at Strangereal yet.
Developed by Bandai Namco Aces Inc., the sequel is built in Unreal Engine 5 with additional proprietary tech, promising the most visually ambitious Ace Combat game to date. The title launches in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
A Return to Strangereal — and a New Ace Rises
Ace Combat 8 sends players back to Strangereal, the series’ fictional world caught in perpetual conflict. This time, players step into the cockpit as the Wings of Theve, a legendary pilot whose very name is tied to Theve, the capital of the nation Federation of Central Usea (FCU).
With the FCU occupied and its navy shattered, your squadron becomes the last thread of hope in a war against the Republic of Sotoa. Joined by three new fighter pilots, players will reclaim territory, push back a superior occupying force, and carry the expectations of their entire homeland on their wings. The reveal heavily teases themes of identity, pressure, and duty, hallmarks of the series’ most emotionally charged entries.
A Campaign Mode Built Around High-Drama, High-Altitude Combat
Ace Combat 8 features a deep, story-driven Campaign Mode. The trailer offers glimpses of first-person cinematics, tense radio chatter, and large-scale operations that reflect the emotional weight of being a symbol of hope during wartime.
As always, missions will blend realistic jet maneuvers with Ace Combat’s signature arcade intensity, letting players push real-world aircraft to their absolute limits.
Pushing Visual Realism to New Heights
Ace Combat has always been known for sky-high graphics, but Wings of Theve appears to push that reputation even further:
- Ultra-detailed fighter jets based on real-world aircraft
- Vast atmospheric effects, including dense cloud layers and storms
- Fully realized landscapes and ground structures
- Enhanced weather navigation that affects tactical decision-making
- Immersive first-person cinematic sequences
Powered by current-gen hardware, the game marks the series’ largest technical leap since Ace Combat 7.
Multiplayer Dogfights Confirmed, With More Details to Come
While specifics remain under wraps, Bandai Namco confirmed that Ace Combat 8 will feature multiplayer modes that bring high-speed aerial combat into competitive and cooperative skies. More information about online features, aircraft customization, and overall gameplay systems will be revealed as the game approaches launch.
For now, the stage has been set: Ace Combat is back, bigger and sharper than ever.
