Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia has announced the worldwide launch of ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE, the first mainline entry in the flight shooting series in seven years. Developed by Bandai Namco Aces Inc. and built with Unreal Engine 5 alongside proprietary technology, the game is available now in Standard Edition and Deluxe Edition on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam, with cross-play support that brings pilots together across every platform according to Bandai Namco.
Quick Facts: ACE COMBAT 8 launch details
Developer: Bandai Namco Aces Inc.
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia
Engine: Unreal Engine 5 plus proprietary technology
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam
Editions: Standard Edition and Deluxe Edition
Multiplayer: Cross-play with an Air Base hub for up to 100 players
Launch event: Orchard Central in Singapore, October 7 to 11, with free entry
A story of occupation, command and the bonds of Joker Flight
The campaign takes place in a world at war, set fully inside the fictitious universe of the series. The Federation of Central Usea has fallen under occupation, which leaves its military scattered and its people fighting to survive. Players take on the identity of Jan Cope, a pilot flying under the callsign Rex and carrying the nickname Wings of Theve, a name tied to Theve, the capital of the Federation, and treated in the story as a symbol of hope.
Rex does not fly alone. Alongside fellow pilots Baxter, Tasha and Coster, who together form Joker Flight, players push back against the invading Republic of Sotoa in a campaign to reclaim their homeland. As the war grows in scale, the squadron faces overwhelming enemy forces and powerful rival pilots, while command decisions shape the fate of the Federation. First-person cinematic sequences place players closer to the pilots at the heart of the conflict and bring the human cost of each mission into focus.
The air combat centers on real-world fighter jets, dense cloudscapes and finely rendered terrain. Weather is more than a backdrop, since storms and shifting conditions can change how a sortie plays out and force pilots to adapt mid-mission. That mix of arcade handling and reactive environments is where the series has always lived, and the new hardware gives the team room to push both further than before. Readers who followed our earlier report on the Ace Combat 8 pre-release details and physical edition bonus will find the same aircraft roster ideas carried into the finished game.
The biggest multiplayer in series history
Online play is the largest the franchise has attempted. Players create a custom mercenary pilot and gather in the Air Base, a shared virtual lobby that connects pilots from around the world and across platforms with room for up to 100 players. From there, squadrons can sortie into Co-Op Assault and Co-Op Warfare missions, join limited-time emergency missions and test themselves in competitive PvP events.
The online mode runs its own progression system with rewards to earn, training to complete and extra activities that include arcade challenges and a Jukebox feature. It is a clear step up from the smaller lobbies of past entries, and cross-play means friends can fly together no matter which of the three platforms they own. The engine behind it all is Unreal Engine 5 paired with proprietary systems, the same engine family powering fellow Unreal project RuneScape 4, which Jagex confirmed at RuneFest 2026, and the launch footage shows thick cloud layers and detailed ground detail holding up at high speed.
Editions, the Premium Ace Pass and the Singapore launch event
Both editions are on sale now. Players who want more than the base game can pick up the Premium Ace Pass for ACE COMBAT ONLINE, which is sold separately and also bundled through the Premium Ace Pass Plus Voucher included with the Deluxe Edition. The voucher unlocks the pass for one season after launch, while the Plus version grants an instant unlock of 30 Ace Pass levels for a head start on the first 30 tiers of seasonal rewards. A season-long track of bonus rewards follows, including aircraft skins, avatar costumes and the playable ADFX-02 MORGAN-PIXY as an additional aircraft.
To celebrate the launch in Singapore, Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia will host the official launch event at Orchard Central from October 7 to 11. The event is open to the public with free entry and features hands-on game demos, the Hanging Bar Challenge, special guest appearances and exclusive freebies. Fans in the region can follow the official social channels of Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia for updates and upcoming giveaways tied to the launch week.
On which platforms is ACE COMBAT 8 WINGS OF THEVE available
The game is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam. Both the Standard Edition and the Deluxe Edition are on sale across all three platforms, and online multiplayer supports cross-play between them.
Does ACE COMBAT 8 support cross-play multiplayer
Yes. Cross-play brings pilots together across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC in the Air Base hub, which holds up to 100 players. Modes include Co-Op Assault, Co-Op Warfare, limited-time emergency missions and PvP events, backed by a dedicated progression and reward system.
What is the Premium Ace Pass in ACE COMBAT 8
The Premium Ace Pass is a seasonal pass for ACE COMBAT ONLINE. It can be bought separately or unlocked through the Premium Ace Pass Plus Voucher in the Deluxe Edition, which covers one season after launch. The Plus version instantly unlocks 30 Ace Pass levels plus a season of bonus rewards such as aircraft skins, avatar costumes and the playable ADFX-02 MORGAN-PIXY.
Where is the ACE COMBAT 8 Singapore launch event
The official launch event takes place at Orchard Central in Singapore from October 7 to 11 and is free and open to the public. It offers hands-on demos, the Hanging Bar Challenge, guest appearances and exclusive freebies, with more updates posted on the official Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia social channels.
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