Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve launches October 2 on Xbox Series X|S and PS5

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, the latest entry from developer Project Aces, hits Xbox Series X|S and PS5 on October 2. The series has been running for over 30 years, and this new installment doubles down on the arcade-style aerial combat the franchise is known for while pushing the storytelling in a noticeably different direction.

The game features over 30 aircraft split across four roles — Fighter, Multirole, Attacker, and Electronic Warfare — and an aircraft upgrade tree you unlock using in-game credits earned through missions and optional objectives. Pre-mission loadout flexibility lets you mix and match your squad composition and apply upgrades to maneuverability, acceleration, and targeting systems. The campaign's first 10 missions cover escort runs, bombing sorties, air-to-air engagements, and large-scale set pieces like destroying a land battleship or defending a carrier fleet. A new cloud layer rendering system and detailed ground environments round out the visual overhaul, though the aircraft themselves — from the F-14 Tomcat to the A-10 Warthog — remain the clear visual centerpiece.

The biggest structural shift is in how Ace Combat 8 tells its story. Rather than traditional third-person cutscenes, almost all narrative sequences are presented from a first-person perspective, placing you physically in rooms and on deck with other characters. You play a silent protagonist who inherits the call sign Wings of Theve after the original bearer — propaganda ace Jan "Rex" Cope — is killed in action. Your squadron, Joker Flight, is a constant presence throughout the campaign, reacting to your decisions both in briefings and over the radio mid-mission. On PS5, DualSense haptic feedback is woven into these moments to sharpen the sense of immersion. Small interactive prompts — yes/no choices on the D-Pad, looking around during cutscenes with the right stick — let you nudge your character's personality and influence how your squadmates perceive you.

With a firm October 2 release date confirmed across both platforms, Ace Combat 8 is shaping up as one of the more ambitious entries in the series in years, blending the franchise's signature spectacle with a more personal, character-driven campaign than fans have seen before.