Rise Above in Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve as Bandai Namco's Legendary Franchise Returns

Revealed at The Game Awards, the First ACE COMBAT Sequel in Seven Years Promises to Elevate the Series with Stunning Visuals and a Deep Campaign Mode

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Dec. 11, 2025 – Revealed at The Game Awards with a visceral audio-visual intro priming the audience before dropping a trailer featuring the first glimpse at game play, Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. today announced ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE™. Developed by Bandai Namco Aces Inc., the first mainline entry in ACE COMBAT in seven years promises to elevate the flight shooting franchise to new heights, harnessing the power of Unreal® Engine 5 and proprietary technology to create a visually stunning, ultra-realistic aerial thrill ride. ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE will feature a deep, engaging Campaign Mode revealed at announcement that puts players in the role of an ace pilot in an emotionally charged story of identity and duty, fighting for the survival of their homeland. With details to be revealed later, the title will also deliver multiplayer modes that thrust players into unforgettable aerial dogfights against friends and foes. ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE is coming in 2026 to PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X | S, and PC via Steam®. For more information, visit https://www.bandainamcoent.com/games/ace-combat-8.

View the announcement trailer “Fall of Wings” here: https://youtu.be/JQYx_867ua0

ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE™ carries on the legacy of ACE COMBAT, a franchise that has always pushed the envelope of game visuals and action-packed, arcade-inspired game play in the flight shooting genre. The newest entry will once again break boundaries, with the reveal showing a glimpse at what realism powered by new generation consoles can bring to the experience. Players fly various real-world fight jets in a game marked by stunning visual details and effects, with realistic expanses of clouds and finely rendered terrain and landscape, and the added challenge of navigating through inclement weather. Players will also experience thrilling first-person point-of-view cinematics, adding even more immersion to the story.

The announcement trailer gives the first taste of the game's deep Campaign Mode, where players take on the role of an ace pilot in Strangereal, a world at war, rooted entirely in a fictitious universe but one where the weight of decisions, the pressure of command and the bonds forged in battle will feel all too real.  With their nation Federation of Central Usea (FCU) occupied and its navy shattered, players enter the cockpit as the “Wings of Theve” – a legendary ace, a name tied to Theve, the capital of the FCU, and a symbol of hope for every citizen in their homeland. Joined by three new fighter pilots, theirs is a flight against odds versus the Republic of Sotoa to reclaim their lost homeland, eliminate the threat to their people, and carry the hope of every FCU citizen. 

Bandai Namco will reveal many exciting details between now and launch for ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE™, including multiplayer modes and other features that promise to make this an unforgettable sequel in the legendary franchise and a must-own title for fans of combat-inspired action games.

For more information on this and other products from Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., please visit www.bandainamcoent.com. Join the conversation on X at https://www.x.com/BandaiNamcoUS, check us out live on Twitch at https://twitch.tv/bandainamcous, or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS.