Bandai Namco released the launch trailer for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve on September 28, 2026, hours before the Deluxe Edition’s three-day early access begins at 3:00 PM PDT (6:00 PM EDT, 22:00 UTC) on Steam. The full game releases October 2 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, per Bandai Namco’s official site.
When It Unlocks
On Steam, the store listing puts the full unlock at 3:00 PM PDT on October 1, which is already October 2 across most of Europe and Asia. Bandai Namco’s official page lists October 2 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S but gives no console unlock times, so check your console’s store listing for your region.
Editions and Pre-Order Bonus
- Standard Edition ($69.99 on Steam): the game.
- Deluxe Edition ($89.99 on Steam): the game, three days of early access, a Premium Ace Pass Plus voucher (one season of the premium pass plus a 30-level skip, usable in any season), and a cosmetic set with an F-4E Mobius Squadron 25th Anniversary skin, an F/A-18C Team Zvezda skin, a Tasha costume set and Scarlet Missile Smoke.
- Joker Flight Pack: the Deluxe Edition plus a 200-plus page book, ACES at WAR: A HISTORY 2029, and two vinyl LPs.
Every pre-order adds the F-14A as a playable aircraft and Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War; on Steam that is the Steam version of Zero. Bandai Namco’s FAQ says the Deluxe Edition stays on sale after launch, minus the early access bonuses that come with digital pre-orders.
PC Requirements
Steam lists Windows 11, an SSD, 150 GB of space and a graphics card with hardware ray tracing as requirements. The minimum spec (Intel Core i7-10700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, 16 GB of RAM, RTX 2060 or RX 6600 XT) targets 1080p upscaled at 30fps on Low. The recommended spec (Core i7-12700K or Ryzen 5 5600X, 32 GB of RAM, RTX 3070 or RX 6800) targets 1080p upscaled at 60fps on Medium.
What This Means for Players
Pre-ordering Deluxe on Steam gets you playing within hours, but check your graphics card first: Steam lists hardware ray tracing as a requirement even at minimum spec. The online mode, Ace Combat Online, has a 100-player air base hub, four-player teams against AI and against other players, eight-player battles against superweapons, cross-platform play, and a free Ace Pass that Bandai Namco says updates every two months, with no paid loot boxes.
It follows The Blood of Dawnwalker, which Bandai Namco published in early September, and arrives as a late contender for our best PS5 games of 2026 and best Xbox games of 2026 lists. If the bundled Ace Combat Zero sends you back a generation, our best PS2 games list covers that era.
Source: Bandai Namco Entertainment, “ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE | Launch Trailer,” Steam, September 28, 2026, and the game’s official site and Steam store page.