ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE is the first mainline entry in the flight shooting series in seven years, built by Bandai Namco Aces Inc. and the PROJECT ACES team. The launch sits at the start of October 2026, with a paid early access window for one edition a few days ahead. If you are tracking the countdown, the key thing is that there are two dates to watch, not one.
Quick answer: The full game launches October 2, 2026 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Deluxe Edition owners get in three days early, with early access starting September 28, 2026 at 3:00 PM PDT (which is September 29 in Europe).
Release time: September 28, 2026 at 3:00 PM PDT (Deluxe Edition early access)
ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE release dates and early access
The standard launch lands October 2, 2026 for everyone. The Steam store page lists the unlock as October 1 in Pacific time, which is the same moment shown as October 2 in Europe once you account for the time difference. The three-day early access for the Deluxe Edition begins September 28 at 3:00 PM PDT, which rolls over to September 29 in European time zones.
| Event | Date and time |
|---|---|
| Deluxe Edition early access starts | September 28, 2026, 3:00 PM PDT (September 29 in Europe) |
| Standard launch (all editions) | October 2, 2026 (October 1 on Steam in PDT regions) |
Editions and pricing for ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE
Three buying options are available. The Standard and Deluxe editions are sold on Steam and the consoles, while the Joker Flight Pack is exclusive to the Bandai Namco Store and bundles physical collectibles on top of the Deluxe contents.
| Edition | Price | Key contents |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $69.99 | Base game |
| Deluxe | $89.99 | Base game, 3-day early access, PREMIUM ACE PASS PLUS voucher, Customizable Cosmetic Set |
| Joker Flight Pack (Bandai Namco Store) | Not listed | Everything in Deluxe, plus the "ACES at WAR: A HISTORY 2029" 200+ page artbook, two LP vinyls, a slipcase, and a slipmat |
The Customizable Cosmetic Set in the Deluxe Edition adds the F-4E Mobius Squadron 25th Anniversary skin, the F/A-18C Team Zvezda skin, the Tasha costume set, and Scarlet Missile Smoke. The skins and Campaign-side rewards unlock after you finish all missions, while some pieces are Online Mode only.
Pre-order bonus and PREMIUM ACE PASS PLUS
Every pre-order, regardless of edition, includes two things at launch. You get the playable F-14A aircraft and a Steam copy of ACE COMBAT ZERO: THE BELKAN WAR, the 2006 entry that introduced the series' Ace Style gauge. The bundled ACE COMBAT ZERO supports Japanese, English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish, so language coverage can differ from the main game.
The Deluxe Edition's PREMIUM ACE PASS PLUS voucher redeems one season of the Premium Ace Pass and instantly grants a 30-level skip. Redeeming it for the launch season also unlocks the ADFX-02 Morgan–PIXY, a Season 1 exclusive aircraft that is usable in Online Mode right away and in Campaign Mode after you clear every mission. The voucher is not locked to a specific season, so you can hold it for a later one. There are no paid loot boxes or randomized paid rewards in the game.
Platforms and PC system requirements
The game runs on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Steam, and it carries an online component called ACE COMBAT ONLINE with cross-platform play. On PC, the listed minimum specs are demanding, since the build requires an SSD and a ray tracing-capable GPU.
| Component | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 11 (64-bit) |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-10700K / AMD Ryzen 5 3600X |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6 GB) / AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT (8 GB) |
| DirectX | Version 12, Shader Model 6.6 or higher |
| Storage | 125 GB available space (SSD required) |
At those minimum settings, the expected performance target is 1080p (upscaled) at 30fps on the "Low" preset, and the frame rate can dip in heavy scenes. Recommended specs have not been finalized.
If your goal is simply to play as soon as possible, the Deluxe Edition is the path in, with the clock running toward September 28, 2026 at 3:00 PM PDT. Everyone else can mark October 2, 2026 for the worldwide launch across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.