Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve launches Oct 2, 2026

The upcoming video game Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will launch globally on October 2, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. A Deluxe Edition will be available for early access starting September 28. The release was confirmed alongside a new gameplay trailer during a recent Sony State of Play presentation.

The eighth mainline entry in the long-running flight combat series is set ten years after the events of Ace Combat 7. The game’s story, penned by series writer Sunao Katabuchi, follows a conflict between the Federation of Central Usea (FCU) and the invading Republic of Sotoa. Players assume the role of a pilot in the FCU’s elite Joker Squadron, adopting the legendary “Wings of Theve” callsign after the presumed death of the original ace, Jan Rex Cope. The narrative will explore themes of connection, legacy, and maintaining hope in wartime, and is presented through enhanced real-time, first-person cutscenes, a departure from the static images used in previous titles.

Gameplay promises a mix of classic aerial dogfighting and new, larger-scale engagements. The game will feature over 30 aircraft divided into four combat roles: fighters, attack aircraft, multirole...