Today, the Ace Combat series celebrates its 30th anniversary, and Bandai Namco and Project Aces revealed plenty of interesting initiatives, on top of a poignant message.
The first game of the series, Air Combat, was released on June 30, 1995, exactly 30 years ago.
To kick off the celebrations, the accompanying press release comes with a message from Kazutoki Kono, Brand Director of the Ace Combat franchise.
While today we don’t get the formal reveal of the next game of the series, which has been in development in Unreal Engine 5 for quite a while in collaboration with ILCA (which recently shipped Sand Land for Bandai Namco), we certainly get at least a tease.
“Since the release of the first title in 1995, thanks to your unwavering support, the ACE COMBAT series has reached a remarkable milestone—its 30th anniversary in 2025.
First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all our fans and everyone involved who has supported the series throughout the years. Thank you, sincerely, from the bottom of my heart. This moment is our chance to return thirty years’ worth of appreciation to you.
I believe that sustaining a legacy over three decades means far more than simply the passage of time. I’ve always shared this message with everyone involved in the series:
“To deliver emotionally resonant, high-quality experiences that exceed expectations, to spark excitement for what comes next—and then to meet that anticipation with even greater ambition. By continuing this cycle, we build a bond of trust with our players, and that bond is the truest expression of our gratitude.”
Over the past thirty years, times have changed. Values have shifted, technologies have evolved. Our company and our team have continually transformed to navigate these tides. In a word, we’ve embraced change.
There were times we may not have fully met your expectations. But I also believe there were moments when we exceeded them—when we soared higher than anyone imagined.
Namco’s founder, Masaya Nakamura, once said, “Only those who can adapt to change will survive.”
I joined Namco in 1994. Back then, I understood those words intellectually—but not yet from experience.Now, I truly do.
After three incredible decades of adapting to change, we’ve built an enduring bond of trust with all of you. That connection is the very force that has sustained the ACE COMBAT series and propelled it into the future. I can now feel this truth in every fiber of my being. And I’m proud—proud that our ongoing commitment to delivering value and earning your trust has led us to this 30th anniversary.
And now, we’re ready. Everything is in place. It’s time to take flight once again—toward even greater heights.”
We’re indeed ready, Kono-san. Just give the signal.
Yet, this promising message is far from everything we’re getting today, starting with the celebratory video below.
We also get the announcement of a 30th anniversary orchestra concert titled “Ace Combat: The Symphony 30th Anniversary” to be hosted on Saturday, Janyary 31, 2026, at the Saitama Kaikan – Large Hall venue near Tokyo, in Japan.
If you can’t enjoy the concert in person, a new Ace Combat Original Soundtrack with 19 songs will be distributed worldwide tomorrow, July 1, on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, and other major streaming platforms. You’ll find it here when it releases.
A dedicated special edition controller will also be released this summer. It works on PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2, both via cable and with an included 2.4GHz wireless receiver.
It has hall effect analog sticks, additional buttons, a trigger depth selector, and a gyroscope and accelerometer combo (for the Switch and Switch 2).
You can see what it looks like below.
Pop-up stores will be opened in Japan, first at the Shinjuku Marui Annex in Tokyo between November 7 and November 24, 2025, and then between December 12 and December 21, 2025, at the Namba Marui in Osaka. There will be more openings, but they have not been announced just yet.
Special merchandise has been launched, and you can see it below. It’s available on the online shopping site Amnibus. You can also take a look at the 30th anniversary smartphone wallpaper.
The merch includes the following.
- Back print zip hoodie (2 types)
- T-shirts (2 types)
- Canvas board (3 types)
- Desk mat (1 type)
- A3 matte poster (1 type)
- Trading acrylic key tags (12 types in total)
If you’re unfamiliar with the Ace Combat series, it’s a franchise of “simulation-lite” air combat games focusing on contemporary fighter jets and is well-known for its cinematic and deep storytelling.
The latest game of the franchise, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, is available for PC, Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch, and it has sold 6 million copies. It’s also the best-selling game of the series by far.