During today’s State of Play, we announced that Ace Combat 8: Wings Of Theve will release on PlayStation 5 on October 2, 2026. For Deluxe Edition holders, Early Access begins on September 28 at 3:00 PM(PDT).
From all-new boss battles to glimpses of allies and rivals, the trailer reveals what lies ahead in Ace Combat 8’sCampaign Mode.
Campaign Mode has become synonymous with the Ace Combat series as a single-player experience, immersing players in the Strangereal world, a shared fictional world across Ace Combat series (3, 4, 5, ZERO, X, 6, 7, and 8) which is a realm that resembles our own but still fundamentally different.. Written by Sunao Katabuchi, Ace Combat 8 invites players to earn their wings as an Ace pilot, and lead the war against the Sotoans to its resolution.
The dangers that lie ahead
Players can dive into a wide variety of combat scenarios including “air-to-air combat,” where you soar freely through the skies, engaging in dogfights with enemy aircrafts.
Redefining aerial combat, Ace Combat 8 introduces techniques like “ground attack” and “anti-ship” missions where you destroy ground and naval targets from above. The most unique combat of Ace Combat series lies in the “giant weapon battles,” which highlight weapons that can only be encountered in Strangereal. Players can look forward to
battles against unique weapons, such as massive continental transport aircraft and land-based ships capable of bringing an entire country within “main gun range.”
A diverse fleet of aircraft
In Ace Combat, players have the ability to pilot over 30 different aircraft! With a lineup that spans real-world fighters from across the globe and original fictional models, pilots can fully experience the fast-paced aerial combat that defines the Ace Combat franchise.
These aircraft are categorized into four roles: fighters, attack aircraft, multi-role aircraft, and electronic warfare aircraft. Players will need to caref