Bandai Namco originally had plans to release Ace Combat 7 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in 2017, but this has since been changed with a delay to 2018.
According to director Kazutoki Kono’s message on official website, the delay was necessary in order to meet the quality standards as the series’ newest title, and so they can bring the best possible experience for the fans with the new release.
Here’s a full translation of the personal letter from Kono:
Dear Ace Combatants,
I wanted to take this opportunity to speak directly to you, our loyal Ace Combat fans, and give you a first-hand update on the launch timing for Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown. The Project ACES team and I have been working hard on Ace Combat 7 and we’re determined to achieve the vision we have set for the game. In order to reach that vision, we have decided to move the launch ofAce Combat 7 to 2018.
We would have loved to launch Ace Combat 7 at the end of 2017 as we originally intended, but doing so would compromise our goal for the game. We take our art very seriously and that means we have instead chosen to devote additional time and effort to perfect and optimize this newest chapter of the Ace Combat saga.
The combination of the Unreal 4 Engine and the power of current generation consoles and PC hardware have literally opened the “skies of opportunity” to us to develop the best Ace Combat experience to-date. At no other time in Ace Combat’s 20+ year history has gaming technology allowed us to deliver the minute details of flight combat – such as cloud cover and air currents – or give players a new way to experience dogfights and attack sorties through hardware such as the new PlayStation VR.
We’ll have a lot more information and details to share with you in the coming months, starting at E3 2017 where we plan to reveal a brand-new demo showcasing one of the non-VR missions in Ace Combat 7 for the first time ever!
On behalf of the entire Project ACES team, I want to thank you all for your patience and for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Kazutoki Kono – Ace Combat Franchise Director
Ace Combat 7 releases in 2018 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
