Today, Bandai Namco released an extensive gameplay video of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, showing off new and familiar features.
We get to see the briefings and the ability to unlock and deeply customize your aircraft with special weapons and parts. This will let you tackle every mission and best fit your playstyle.
The video also shows the wingmen, who can receive the usual orders, but appear to be more effective at executing them than in previous chapters of the franchise. Enemy squadrons led by aces will also coordinate their tactics to take you down.
Visible changes have been made to combat against superweapons. This time around, we’ll finally be able to damage them even if we don’t hit them specifically in their target boxes (but anywhere else on their 3D model). This is a very welcome change compared to the history of the franchise.
Another new mechanic allows you to chain kills as the wreckage from a destroyed superweapon hits another while falling from the sky.
You can watch the video and experience the gameplay of Ace Combat 8 below, alongside a few new screenshots.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will release on October 2, 2026, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, following the announcement from a few months ago. If you want to see more, you can check out a developer diary and the latest trailer.
It’s the latest installment of the popular Ace Combat franchise, which culminated a few years ago with Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, that has broken all sales records for the series by shipping over 7 million units, after a period in which it remained dormant.
If you’d like to read more flight simulation news, you can find plenty in our latest roundup article from yesterday.
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