Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Brings the Jet Fighting Franchise Back in 2026
Game rewards had lots of revelations Thursday, including the return of Ace Combat. The combat flight simulation will make a comeback next year with Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, which will be the first new game in the franchise since 2019’s Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
In Ace Combat 8, you’re once again a one-person force taking on an entire squadron of fighter jets. If this lives up to the series’ reputation, expect a surprisingly dramatic story about warring nations and the battles they wage in the skies.
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When does Ace Combat 8 come out?
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will be released in 2026 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles.
What is the story of Ace Combat 8?
Even though the Ace Combat series uses real planes and weapons, the story takes place in the Strangereal universe. The world is like Earth, with different countries having their own power struggles and political battles that seem familiar.
Players take on the role of a fighter pilot adrift at sea, whose national naval force has been destroyed, Nao Udagawa, CEO of Bandai Namco Entertainment, told Variety on Thursday. The Federation of Central Usea has been invaded by the Republic of Sotoa, and it’s up to this pilot and the crew of the Endurance ship to fight back. In the series timeline, the events of Ace Combat 8 take place after Ace Combat 7 and before Ace Combat 3.
