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Bandai Namco has announced a live-action screen project for Ace Combat, but it is a four-part prequel series—not a confirmed feature film. Called HOUR ZERO, it leads into ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE. Producer Manabu Shimomoto and brand director Kazutoki Kono say the series was proposed after the game was already well into development, as a way to introduce the franchise to more people.
What screen project has Bandai Namco confirmed?
HOUR ZERO is an officially announced, four-part live-action prequel to ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE. Bandai Namco said the installments would begin on September 15, 2026, and conclude ahead of the game’s October 2 launch. Those announced dates have passed; the publisher’s official game page is the place to check for current availability and details.
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The project is designed to set up the game’s story, not to announce a theatrical adaptation. The publisher describes ACE COMBAT 8 as a campaign about identity and duty, with players taking the role of an ace pilot fighting for the survival of a homeland.
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In a CGMagazine interview, Shimomoto and Kono said a live-action prequel was not part of the original plan. The game was already well into development when Bandai Namco Entertainment US and creative collaborators repeatedly proposed the idea.
#1 Best Overall
- DELUXE EDITION INCLUDES: Base Game, 3 Day Early Access, Premium Ace Pass Plus Voucher [Unlock the Premium Ace Pass for the Currrent Season] (includes ADFX-02 Morgan -Pixy aircraft + Ace Pass Levels [Instant Unlock of 30 Premium Ace Pass Levels]), and Customizable Cosmetic Set (includes F-4E Mobius Squadro Skin, F/A-1BC Team Zvezda Skin, Scarlet Missile Smoke, and Tasha Costume Set.)
- ACE COMBAT 8 DELIVERS HIGH-OCTANE AERIAL ACTION! Step into the cockpit and take flight as an elite pilot across stunning skies. Enter intense dogfights, eliminate threats, and rise through gripping missions to earn your wings. The game is developed by PROJECT ACES, the acclaimed team behind the franchise.
- AERIAL WARFARE IN LIVING SKIES. Campaign Mode showcases stunning visuals with dynamic multi-layered cloudscapes that capture the majesty of living skies. Feel the rush of a fast-paced arcade-style gameplay and deploy powerful weapons to dominate the battlefield.
- A VISCERAL JOURNEY FROM COCKPIT TO GROUND. Beyond the chaos in the air, breathtaking first-person scenes reveal your pilot’s story through breathtaking cinematics. Experience the pressure of command, the weight of decisions, and the bonds forged in battle. Between missions, bond with your squad members, rise to meet adversity, and prove yourself as a true ace.
Shimomoto described the game’s central aim as immersion: “The core concept of the game is really to transport the player into the other side of the screen in complete immersion, where you feel like the ace pilot going on that journey.” The interviewees summarized the project’s unexpected origin this way: “Regarding the short film Hour Zero, it wasn’t something that was planned from the beginning.”
Kono said the team initially wanted to know whether the partners could deliver the project, asking, “Are you guys sure you can pull this off?” Once the partners expressed confidence, the team agreed to move forward.
Rank #2
- Innovation in the Sky: Breathtaking clouds coupled with highly detailed aircraft and photorealistic scenery makes this the most engaging Ace Combat to date.
- Return to Strangereal: The alternative Ace Combat universe composed of real-world current and near-future weapons, but with a history steeped in Ace Combat lore.
- All new arsenal of ultra-modern super weapons and formidable enemies.
Why make a live-action introduction before the game?
The creators framed HOUR ZERO as an audiovisual introduction for people who might not already know the series. Shimomoto identified franchise awareness as a weakness and said the aim was to bring a broader audience into the cockpit, beyond aviation and aircraft enthusiasts.
They also cited the theatrical appeal of fighter-pilot stories as a useful touchpoint. Referring to Top Gun: Maverick, the creators said, “We are very thankful to Top Gun!” That was an acknowledgment of the film’s role in renewing interest in the fighter-pilot world—not an announcement of a partnership or a claim that HOUR ZERO is part of the Top Gun franchise.
Rank #3
- Unreal Engine 4 Technologies - Breathtaking clouds coupled with highly detailed aircraft and photorealistic scenery make this the most engaging Ace Combat to date.
- Dynamic Weather - Witness the sudden changes during your flight and strive to fight the environmental conditions to take advantage over your enemy.
- Return To Strange Real-World - The alternative Ace Combat universe is composed of real-world current and near-future weapons, but with a history steeped in Ace Combat lore.
Is an Ace Combat feature film officially happening?
No feature film is established as an official Bandai Namco project in the available announcements. A separate report attributes interest in a possible feature to HOUR ZERO actor Josh Holloway. That is Holloway’s personal interest, not a studio greenlight or confirmation that a movie is in production.
| Screen project | Status | Format and role |
|---|---|---|
| HOUR ZERO | Officially announced by Bandai Namco | Four-part live-action prequel that sets up ACE COMBAT 8 |
| Possible feature film | Not announced as an official production; interest is attributed to actor Josh Holloway in separate coverage | Hypothetical feature; no confirmed production or release details |
In short, the team’s move to the screen is real in the form of a prequel series. A theatrical Ace Combat movie remains unconfirmed.
Rank #4
- TAKE FLIGHT AS AN ELITE ACE — Step into the cockpit and soar through thrilling missions, intense dogfights, and high-stakes aerial combat developed by PROJECT ACES.
- AERIAL WARFARE IN LIVING SKIES — Experience stunning visuals featuring dynamic multi-layered cloudscapes, realistic weather conditions, and breathtaking skies that transform every battle.
- FAST-PACED ARCADE AIR COMBAT — Engage enemy aircraft, deploy powerful weapons, and dominate the battlefield with the signature high-speed gameplay the ACE COMBAT series is known for.
- A VISCERAL PILOT STORY — Experience dramatic first-person sequences, cinematic storytelling, squad relationships, and the pressures of command between missions.
- THE LARGEST ONLINE MODE IN SERIES HISTORY — Explore the franchise's first online lobby, customize your avatar, and sortie into online missions with pilots worldwide.
How ACE COMBAT 8 fits into the project
ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE is the game HOUR ZERO leads into. Bandai Namco announced it for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, with Bandai Namco Aces Inc. identified as its developer. The publisher described it as the first mainline Ace Combat entry in seven years.
Bandai Namco’s June 2026 announcement set the standard launch for October 2, 2026, and early access for Deluxe Edition holders for September 29, 2026. These are past announced dates, not confirmation of current stock, pricing, or retailer availability.
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