Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve - Release Date and Deluxe Edition Revealed with New Videos

During yesterday's Sony State of Play, Bandai Namco made the announcement: Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will be released on October 2, 2026. As part of the announcement, the publisher unveiled two impressive trailers.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is the first new main entry in the series in seven years—and yesterday’s Sony State of Play finally clarified the release date. AC8 takes off on October 2, 2026. Deluxe Edition owners will get it even sooner. Check out the release date announcement trailer here:

Ace Combat 8 is an action-focused arcade flight simulator developed by Bandai Namco Aces (formerly known as Project Aces). You take on the role of an elite pilot in the series’ fictional Strangereal universe—a parallel setting that mirrors our world but follows its own rules. The story takes place in July 2029: The Federation of Central Usea (FCU) is overrun by the Republic of Sotoa, and the capital, Theve, falls. Your pilot takes on the legendary call sign “Wings of Theve” and leads Joker Squadron—consisting of Baxter, Tasha, and Coster—in a counterattack. The goal: to reclaim their homeland.

In terms of gameplay, Ace Combat 8 delivers fast-paced aerial combat, dogfights at various altitudes, and a varied mission design, including air combat, ground operations, and battles against giant bosses like the approximately 450-meter-long land battleship. Between missions, you grow closer to your squadron, while cinematic cutscenes bring the characters to life. Technically, Bandai Namco relies on the Unreal Engine 5 and an in-house cloud technology called Cloudly, which generates multi-layered, dynamic, and stunningly beautiful skies. The online battlefield also features the series’ most extensive multiplayer mode to date, including cross-play and a dedicated online lobby system.

Ace Combat 8: Deluxe Edition with Advanced Access – All Content at a Glance

And now for the bonus briefing: Bandai Namco has also announced a Deluxe Edition, which is now available for pre-order right here on Gamesplanet. Here’s the trailer:

The Deluxe Edition of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve includes the base game, a customizable cosmetic set, and a Premium Ace Pass Plus voucher. The highlight: three days of Early Access, or Advanced Access, as it is now correctly called. Advanced Access is expected to start on September 29, 2026, three days before the regular launch on October 2.

Anyone who pre-orders from Gamesplanet—whether the Standard or Deluxe Edition—will also receive pre-order bonuses: the playable F-14A Tomcat fighter jet and a free copy of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War (Steam version). The latter is a PS2 classic from 2006 in which you play as the mercenary pilot “Cipher” in the fictional Belkan War of 1995—a prequel to Ace Combat 5 that still enjoys cult status in the community today. Both editions come with pre-order bonuses. Only the Deluxe Edition includes Advanced Access as a bonus.

Pre-order now and make sure you’re the first to take to the skies on September 29!