Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has finally been revealed, and from the looks of it, the game’s story will be a more character-driven affair compared to the other games in the series.
In case you missed it, the latest Ace Combat game was finally unveiled at The Game Awards last week, and it delighted fans who have been waiting for a long time for the next franchise entry. After all, it has been nearly seven years since Ace Combat 7. Of course, Ace Combat fans still have it much better than the Half-Life fanbase, many of whom were hoping to see the rumored Half-Life 3.
While the trailer didn’t reveal much gameplay-wise, it did give us a good idea of what to expect story-wise. From the looks of it, this game will be unique given its emphasis on the protagonist’s other squad members.
Previous Ace Combat games also put the spotlight on other characters, but for the most part, the other squad members only appear via voice lines during missions. For Ace Combat 8, players will actually get to see the other main characters, courtesy of first-person cutscenes that will play in between missions.
This, coupled with the fact that the game’s main hub seems to be an aircraft carrier, means there will be plenty of opportunities to see and get close to other team members. Thanks to this, Wings of Theve is definitely a promising series entry for fans who want something a bit fresh from the series.
On the other hand, Wings of Theve still promises to deliver a familiar story. Yes, this game is still set in Strangereal (Ace Combat’s fictional universe), and yes, you’ll once again take control of an Ace pilot against a surprise enemy invasion.
It’s fair to say that most Ace Combat games have stories that start with a major invasion, whether it’s Erusea invading Usean countries during the Continental War in Ace Combat 4, to Estovakia’s march to Emmeria in the aptly-named Estovakia-Emmeria of Ace Combat 6.
For Ace Combat 8, the Federation of Central Usea has “fallen under a lightning invasion by the Republic of Sotoa.” This means the game will once again take place in Usea, though the fact that Sotoa is the enemy is interesting. After all, while Sotoa has been shown on the Strangreal map for years now, this will be the first major conflict featuring them.
As for the main character, players will take on the role of a fighter pilot who is tasked with taking up the mantle of the legendary “Wings of Theve.”
Its story is described as:
You’re a fighter pilot, adrift at sea in a rescue boat until the outdated aircraft carrier, Endurance, pulls you aboard. Your homeland’s navy is shattered. The aging vessel, its decks crowded with refugees, has already retreated far from the front lines.
July 2029: The Federation of Central Usea (FCU) has fallen under a lightning invasion by the Republic of Sotoa. Most of the nation is occupied, the military is scattered, and the Endurance is just one fragment of what remains. On this ship, you’re given a single name: “Wings of Theve”. A legendary ace, a symbol of hope, a name tied to Theve, the FCU capital.
But that legend was a lie; it was a story made to keep morale alive. Now, you must carry that name and take to the skies again. With three new comrades at your side, fight to reclaim your lost homeland.
Ace Combat 8 Should Still be a Great Entry Point for Newcomers, both Story and Gameplay-wise
Even though this is the eighth Ace Combat game, the great thing for new fans is that they can jump right into Wings of Theve. After all, pretty much every game in the series is designed as a standalone experience. Sure, there are some callbacks to previous games, but each game’s story is pretty much self-contained.
Aside from gameplay, Wings of Theve should also be a great starting point. Each game has a fairly comprehensive tutorial, and we expect 8 to also have one, meaning you should get enough time to learn the game’s mechanics. And don’t worry, even though flying fighter jets seems complicated, Ace Combat games are more like arcade games than technical flight sims.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will be released on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC sometime in 2026.