Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve was officially announced by Bandai Namco and developed by Project Aces (Bandai Namco Aces), and announced through the first trailer shown at The Game Awards 2025. The game is set to launch in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam.
Also Read: Full List of Latest Game Trailers at The Game Awards 2025
“Wings of Theve” story and conflict setting
Ace Combat 8 carries the title Wings of Theve, and the announcement immediately lays out a pretty clear story premise. The main character is described as a fighter pilot who is stranded at sea in a rescue boat, and then lifted onto an old aircraft carrier called the Endurance. The ship is not a modern, combat-ready fleet, but rather a ship that houses refugees and has retreated far from the front lines.
The setting is set in July 2029. The Federation of Central Usea (FCU) is said to have fallen due to a rapid invasion by the Republic of Sotoa. Most of the territory is under occupation, the military is scattered, and the Endurance is a fragment of the remaining forces.
On board the ship, the main character is given one name: “Wings of Theve”. The name refers to a legendary ace that symbolizes hope, related to Theve as the capital of the FCU. The story then adds a core conflict: the legend turns out to be made up to maintain morale. The protagonist must now adopt the name and return to the skies, accompanied by three new comrades, to fight to reclaim his homeland. This premise opens up space for themes of identity, the pressures of being a symbol, and squad dynamics in the midst of a war situation.
Game direction and highlighted gameplay
The official summary emphasizes Ace Combat 8 as an aerial action game with a fast pace, intense dogfights, and missions designed to push players to level up their experience as elite pilots. This description is in line with the Ace Combat series' identity of typically combining arcade-style action with cinematic presentation.
One aspect that is emphasized quite a bit is the visual “living skies” through the dynamic layered cloudscape. The mention of multi-layer clouds is interesting because, in many aviation games, weather design often has an effect on visibility and combat situations. However, the announcement does not clarify whether clouds and weather have a direct impact on gameplay (e.g. target lock-on, visibility, or AI behavior) or serve more as a visual enhancement.
The summary also mentions first-person cinematic scenes from the cockpit to moments on the ground. This signals that the storytelling does not stop at briefings and radio chatter, but also shows the personal side of the pilots and squad outside of combat.
Ace Combat 8 platform and release schedule
The announcement said Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will be coming to three major ecosystems: PS5, Xbox Series, and PC. The release is pegged at 2026, without a specific date. The decision to release on PC (Steam) from the start also confirms that the series is again targeting cross-platform players, not just consoles.
In terms of public information, technical details such as performance, graphics options, accessibility features or additional support have not been discussed. The material available is still at an introductory level: who the developers are, release targets, platforms, and an overview of the game's direction.
