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Bandai Namco revealed at the June 2026 State of Play that it will release Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve on October 2, 2026. Not long after the stream, the company updated the Japanese official website for Ace Combat 8 with more details on the gameplay features, such as the Chain Destruction system and the Online mode.
While prior series entries had featured chain destruction via oil tank explosions on the surface, Bandai Namco gives a new emphasis on the chain destruction caused by falling debris from downed enemy aircraft. Hostiles that are shot down with guns instead of missiles are said to be more likely to fall as debris and potentially hit more targets.
On the same page, the company also newly added that players will be able to bring a secondary special weapon on their aircraft after reaching a certain point in the campaign storyline. However, this option will also have a drawback in reduced ammunition for both weapons, as opposed to carrying a single special weapon.
Bandai Namco also teased that the Online mode in Ace Combat 8 will let players create pilot avatars to participate in co-op and versus sessions with up to seven other players. It also promises that there will be cross-play support, although there will be no cross-save transfer.
The company has also uploaded a separate Deluxe Edition trailer, which reveals that the Online mode will also feature seasonal pass rewards. Pixy’s ADFX-02 Morgan will appear as an example of content obtainable via the premium pass.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC worldwide on October 2, 2026. Pre-orders and early purchases of the game will come with a port of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War on the respective platforms. Those who purchase the Deluxe Edition will be able to get Early Access from September 29, 2026.
