Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is now the most expansive choice for players who want a new campaign and broad online play. It released on October 2, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown remains the direct previous mainline game, while Project Wingman is a smaller, PC-focused alternative with an alternate-Earth campaign, Conquest mode, VR and explicit HOTAS support.
The right purchase depends less on a universal “best” rating than on four questions: which story and setting you prefer, whether you need multiplayer, which platforms you own, and whether VR or flight-stick support is essential.
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At a glance: the practical choice
| Choose this game if you want… | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A new console-generation campaign and the broadest online feature set | Ace Combat 8 | New Federation of Central Usea story, cross-play, co-op, limited-time PvP, special PvE sorties and a 100-player Air Base hub. |
| The established Strangereal setting and a proven aircraft-customisation formula | Ace Combat 7 | The 2019 mainline predecessor focuses on high-speed dogfighting, aircraft and weapon customisation. |
| A self-contained PC campaign with territory capture, roguelike progression, VR and HOTAS | Project Wingman | Its Steam listing specifies more than 20 aircraft, over 40 weapons, Conquest mode, VR and DirectInput HOTAS compatibility. |
This is a feature comparison, not a review scorecard. Publisher descriptions establish what each game offers, but they do not establish frame-rate parity, mission quality, campaign length or how enjoyable a particular aircraft system feels in practice.
Ace Combat 8 is released, not an upcoming game
Bandai Namco lists ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE as released on October 2, 2026. Early access began on September 29 for eligible purchases. The launch announcement states that the game is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam. That means a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One version should not be assumed from the previous game’s generation coverage.
#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.
Bandai Namco Entertainment America announced on October 9, 2026, that the game had reached one million units worldwide. The publisher described this as the fastest sales pace in the franchise. It is a publisher-reported figure, not an independently audited sales total.
“ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE is available now on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam®.”
Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe PR Team, launch announcement, October 2, 2026
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How Ace Combat 8’s campaign differs from Ace Combat 7
A new war in Central Usea
Ace Combat 8’s story is set in July 2029. The Federation of Central Usea has been occupied after an invasion by the Republic of Sotoa. The player is rescued by the aircraft carrier Endurance, receives the name “Wings of Theve,” and fights to reclaim the homeland alongside three comrades.
The legend attached to Wings of Theve was created to maintain morale during the conflict. That premise gives the campaign a personal and symbolic focus distinct from simply placing another pilot into a large military operation. The setting is still part of the series’ fictional world, but the official synopsis puts the occupied Federation of Central Usea and the Sotoan invasion at the center of the plot.
More explicit cinematic and relationship elements
Bandai Namco describes the campaign as arcade-style aerial action connected by cinematic first-person scenes. Official materials also highlight squad relationships and consequential decisions. Those details indicate a campaign presentation built around the pilot’s identity, companions and choices, rather than only mission briefings and radio chatter.
Rank #2
- ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE 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 in this game developed by PROJECT ACES, the acclaimed team behind the franchise.
The publisher uses phrases such as “most immersive” and “breathtaking” in its promotional material. Treat those as marketing language, not as independently measured comparisons with Ace Combat 7 or Project Wingman. The game uses Unreal Engine 5 and proprietary technology, according to the European launch announcement, but that fact alone does not establish a particular resolution, frame rate or visual advantage on every system.
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What Ace Combat 7 represents
Steam lists ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES UNKNOWN as released on January 31, 2019. Bandai Namco Studios developed it and Bandai Namco Entertainment published it. Its store description emphasizes high-speed dogfighting, aircraft and weapon customisation, and the fictional Strangereal setting.
Ace Combat 8 is described by Bandai Namco as the first mainline entry in seven years, making Ace Combat 7 the direct previous mainline baseline. That establishes the franchise relationship, but it does not prove that every control, aircraft, weapon, mission structure or progression rule carries over unchanged. Players moving from 7 to 8 should check the current platform listing and edition details rather than assume complete system continuity.
Multiplayer: Ace Combat 8 is in a different category
A separate online progression track
Ace Combat 8 introduces an online mode called ACE COMBAT ONLINE. The official FAQ says online progression and save data are separate from the campaign. Your multiplayer progress is therefore not presented as the same progression path as the single-player story.
Modes and player count
The listed online activities include:
- Co-Op Assault
- Co-Op Warfare
- Scramble
- Emergency Sortie
- Limited-time PvP events
- Special PvE sorties
The official description also identifies an Air Base hub that can host up to 100 players and says cross-play connects players across platforms. “Up to 100” is a stated capacity, not a guarantee that every activity places 100 people in one combat mission. The mode list and seasonal schedule can change after launch.
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Steam lists Ace Combat 7 as a single-player title in the material used for this comparison. That listing does not establish the full multiplayer situation across every platform or edition. Project Wingman’s Steam page likewise lists it as single-player; do not infer multiplayer support merely because it is a flight-action game or because it has a general online-capable storefront category.
Rank #3
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If playing with friends is a deciding factor, Ace Combat 8 is the only one of the three for which the supplied official description clearly establishes cross-platform online co-op, PvP events and a large social hub.
Project Wingman: similar flight action, different priorities
Alternate-history Earth instead of Strangereal or Central Usea
Project Wingman was released on December 1, 2020. Steam identifies Sector D2 as the developer and Sector D2 and Balor Games as publishers. The store description calls it a flight-action game for players who do not want a simulator experience.
Its single-player campaign takes place on an alternate-history Earth. That makes it a thematic alternative rather than another chapter in Ace Combat’s Strangereal continuity. The game’s tone, world-building and mission context should be approached on their own terms instead of treated as a direct continuation of either Ace Combat title.
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Project Wingman highlights Conquest mode, a territory-capture experience with roguelike and RPG elements. This is a meaningful structural difference from the campaign descriptions supplied for Ace Combat 7 and Ace Combat 8. Rather than buying it specifically for a large cross-play community, a player may choose it for replayable territory progression and a more system-driven mode.
Aircraft, weapons and PC hardware
The Steam listing advertises more than 20 aircraft and over 40 weapons. It also explicitly states VR support and HOTAS compatibility with DirectInput peripherals. Those are concrete reasons for a PC player with a supported headset or flight stick to consider Project Wingman.
That statement does not establish that a particular controller works with Ace Combat 7 or Ace Combat 8. Hardware compatibility can depend on the operating system, device drivers, game mode and current edition, so verify the live store listing for the exact setup before buying a peripheral.
Rank #4
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Feature comparison
| Reader priority | Ace Combat 8 | Ace Combat 7 | Project Wingman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campaign setting | July 2029; occupied Federation of Central Usea and the Republic of Sotoa invasion. | Strangereal war; high-speed aerial combat and customisable aircraft. | Alternate-history Earth; single-player campaign. |
| Campaign presentation | Cinematic first-person scenes, squad relationships and decisions are highlighted by the publisher. | Series-style combat campaign; the supplied store description emphasises dogfighting and customisation. | Arcade-style flight action designed for players who do not want a simulator. |
| Online play | Cross-play, separate online progression, co-op, limited-time PvP, special PvE sorties and an Air Base hub for up to 100 players. | Steam lists single-player; broader platform-by-platform multiplayer availability is not established here. | Steam lists single-player; multiplayer support should not be inferred. |
| Platforms established by the cited listings | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam. | Steam confirms PC availability; check current console listings separately. | Steam confirms PC availability; availability can vary by edition. |
| VR | Not established in the official materials cited here. | Steam includes a VR tag, but supported modes and platforms are not established here. | Steam explicitly lists VR support. |
| Flight-stick support | Not established in the official materials cited here. | Not established for a specific controller by the information cited here. | Steam explicitly lists HOTAS support with DirectInput peripherals. |
Storefront features can differ by platform and change over time. “Not established” means the cited material does not confirm the feature; it does not prove that a feature is impossible.
Which edition of Ace Combat 8 should you buy?
Standard Edition
The Standard Edition is the straightforward choice if you want the game itself and do not need launch bonuses, a seasonal pass voucher or collector physical items. Confirm the exact local price and platform before checkout because regional storefront terms are not fixed in the supplied information.
Deluxe Edition
Bandai Namco lists a Deluxe Edition containing the full game, three days of early access, a Premium Ace Pass Plus voucher for one season and cosmetics. Early access began on September 29, before the October 2 general release.
The publisher says the Deluxe Edition remains purchasable after launch, but preorder early-access bonuses are not included after launch. That distinction matters: buying Deluxe now does not automatically recreate every preorder promotion.
Joker Flight Pack
The listed Joker Flight Pack combines the Deluxe Edition with ACES at WAR: A HISTORY 2029, a book of more than 200 pages, and two LP vinyl records with a slipcover and slipmat. These physical extras belong to the collector-style bundle. Do not assume that a digital Deluxe purchase includes the book or vinyl, and verify local retailer inventory before ordering.
Passes, seasonal content and paid rewards
Ace Combat 8 includes a free ACE PASS and paid Premium Ace Pass tiers. Bandai Namco says Premium tiers provide extra seasonal rewards, including aircraft, cosmetics and aircraft-upgrade items. The Deluxe Edition’s Premium Ace Pass Plus voucher covers one season.
Best Value
- ✈️ OFFICIAL ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE LICENSE : Step into the cockpit of Strangereal's most legendary pilots with this official Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve licensed Thrustmaster HOTAS. Designed for PS5, PS4 and PC, plug in and take off immediately.
- 🎯 ABSOLUTE COMBAT PRECISION : Dominate the skies with 16-bit technology and 7 control axes including the Z-axis. With 16 action buttons, a rapid-fire trigger and a multidirectional hat switch, every missile launched and every maneuver executed is accurate to the millimeter.
- 💥 IMMERSIVE VIBRATION FEEDBACK : Feel every missile impact, every cannon burst and every turbulence directly in your palm, thanks to the vibration motor built into the grip.
- 🔧 DETACHABLE THROTTLE: Customize your joystick to suit your gaming style! Rest the joystick on your lap, or detach the throttle for use on a desk or table. Experience tailor-made comfort for back-to-back missions with no compromises.
- 🛫 DUAL RUDDER SYSTEM : Control your aircraft's rotation via the joystick's Z-axis or the tilting lever on the detachable throttle. Two options, total freedom to dominate every combat situation.
The publisher also says the game has no paid loot boxes or randomized paid rewards and that there are currently no plans for consumables. “Currently” is important: seasonal content, reward tracks and availability can change. Read the live platform description for the season and region you are purchasing.
Decision guide by player type
Choose Ace Combat 8 for online variety
Pick Ace Combat 8 if cross-play, co-op or a continuing online progression track is central to your purchase. It is the only option here with an officially described 100-player hub and a listed mix of co-op, PvP events and special PvE sorties.
Choose Ace Combat 8 for a new console-generation story
The new campaign is the clearest reason to move beyond Ace Combat 7: a 2029 occupation, the Wings of Theve identity, the Endurance carrier, three comrades, cinematic first-person scenes and decisions. The title is available on current PlayStation and Xbox hardware as well as Steam.
Choose Ace Combat 7 for the established formula
Ace Combat 7 fits a player who specifically wants the earlier Strangereal war and the aircraft-and-weapon customisation emphasis documented on its Steam page. It is also the natural starting point for someone who wants to understand the previous mainline entry before buying 8.
Choose Project Wingman for VR, HOTAS or Conquest
Project Wingman is the clearest choice when explicit VR and DirectInput HOTAS support matter. Its alternate-history campaign, more-than-20-aircraft roster, 40-plus weapons and Conquest mode also give it an identity beyond being a substitute Ace Combat campaign.
Buying checklist before checkout
- Confirm your platform. Ace Combat 8’s listed platforms are PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam. Ace Combat 7 and Project Wingman require separate checks for current console availability.
- Decide whether you need multiplayer. Only Ace Combat 8 has the clearly described cross-play online package in this comparison.
- Check VR and HOTAS requirements. Project Wingman explicitly supports both; Ace Combat 8’s cited official materials do not establish VR or HOTAS support.
- Compare edition contents. Digital Deluxe content is not the same as the Joker Flight Pack’s book and vinyl records.
- Read the current seasonal terms. Premium Ace Pass rewards and availability can change, and post-launch purchases do not include preorder-only early-access bonuses.
- Verify regional price and stock. Local storefront pricing, physical inventory and platform-specific features are volatile.
Bottom line for different buyers
Ace Combat 8 is the broadest buy if you want the current mainline campaign plus a substantial online component. Ace Combat 7 remains relevant as the previous Strangereal campaign and customisation-focused baseline. Project Wingman is the specialist alternative: choose it for its alternate-Earth setting, Conquest structure, VR and explicit DirectInput HOTAS support rather than for console multiplayer.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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