✈️ Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Officially Announced at The Game Awards 2025
Nearly seven years after Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown earned praise from critics and combat flight fans worldwide, Bandai Namco is officially returning to the skies with the next chapter in its long-running aerial combat franchise.
Announced during The Game Awards 2025, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is set to deliver the high-octane dogfighting action the series is known for when it launches in 2026. The game is confirmed for PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S.
🎉 A 30-Year Legacy Takes Flight Again
The announcement arrives as part of the franchise’s 30th anniversary celebrations. Back in June, Ace Combat brand director Kazutoki Kono published a heartfelt message thanking fans for decades of support — ending with a cryptic tease:
“Everything is in place. It’s time to take flight once again—toward even greater heights.”
With Ace Combat 8 now officially revealed, that promise is finally becoming reality.
📅 Release Window: 2026
While Bandai Namco stopped short of announcing a specific release date, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is currently slated for 2026. The studio has indicated that more details — including gameplay footage — will be revealed in the coming months.
🌍 Story Details: A New Ace Rises
According to Variety, Wings of Theve takes place after the events of Ace Combat 7 but before Ace Combat 3, positioning it at a critical point in the franchise timeline.
Bandai Namco’s official story synopsis sets the stage:
You are a fighter pilot stranded at sea until an aging aircraft carrier, Endurance, rescues you. Your homeland’s navy lies in ruins. Refugees crowd the ship’s decks as it retreats from the front lines.
It’s July 2029. The Federation of Central Usea (FCU) has been devastated by a surprise invasion from the Republic of Sotoa. Most of the country is occupied, its military scattered.
Aboard the Endurance, you’re given a name: “Wings of Theve.” A legendary ace. A symbol of hope. A myth created as propaganda to keep morale alive.
Now, the lie becomes your burden. With three new comrades at your side, you must take to the skies and fight to reclaim your homeland.
🔥 What’s Next for Ace Combat 8
While the reveal trailer focused more on tone and narrative than raw gameplay, fans are encouraged by the depth of story details already shared. With its signature blend of cinematic storytelling and intense aerial combat, Ace Combat 8 looks poised to build meaningfully on the foundation laid by its predecessor.
For now, all eyes are on Bandai Namco’s next reveal — and the return of one of gaming’s most respected flight-combat franchises.