Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve releases worldwide on Friday, October 2, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Deluxe Edition buyers can start playing up to three days early, around September 29, 2026.
Shown in your local time · counts down to Friday, October 2, 2026 (time not yet official)
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Release date: Friday, October 2, 2026 · PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC · $69.99
- Release date
- Friday, October 2, 2026
- Platforms
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Price
- $69.99
- Pre-order
- Pre-orders open
- Last verified
- July 7, 2026
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is the newest entry in Bandai Namco's long-running aerial-combat series, developed by the Project Aces team behind Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown. It puts players in the cockpit after a lightning invasion of the Federation of Central Usea by the Republic of Sotoa, flying as a weapon systems officer alongside a pilot whose exploits have been spun into wartime propaganda. Expect the franchise's signature blend of high-speed dogfights, dramatic story missions, and a deep roster of real-world and fictional aircraft.
The game launches worldwide on Friday, October 2, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. It ships in a Standard Edition priced at $69.99 and a Deluxe Edition at $89.99, the latter granting up to three days of early access. Every pre-order also bundles a remaster of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War and a playable F-14A, available across all three platforms.
Wings of Theve is the first fully numbered Ace Combat since Skies Unknown arrived in 2019, and fans have waited years for a proper current-generation follow-up. The return of a branching, character-driven campaign and the promise of squad-based storytelling have made it one of the most anticipated flight games of the year. With a firm date now on the calendar, the countdown to launch is officially on.
Global unlock times
When the countdown hits zero, here is the local time in cities around the world.
| City | Local unlock time |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles UTC-7 | 5:00 PM · Thu, Oct 1 * |
| New York UTC-4 | 8:00 PM · Thu, Oct 1 * |
| São Paulo UTC-3 | 9:00 PM · Thu, Oct 1 * |
| London UTC+1 | 1:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Berlin UTC+2 | 2:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Paris UTC+2 | 2:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Istanbul UTC+3 | 3:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Riyadh UTC+3 | 3:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Dubai UTC+4 | 4:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Cairo UTC+3 | 3:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Mumbai UTC+5:30 | 5:30 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Bangkok UTC+7 | 7:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Jakarta UTC+7 | 7:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Hanoi UTC+7 | 7:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Manila UTC+8 | 8:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Kuala Lumpur UTC+8 | 8:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Singapore UTC+8 | 8:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Tokyo UTC+9 | 9:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Seoul UTC+9 | 9:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Shanghai UTC+8 | 8:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Taipei UTC+8 | 8:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Karachi UTC+5 | 5:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Dhaka UTC+6 | 6:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Mexico City UTC-6 | 6:00 PM · Thu, Oct 1 * |
| Bogotá UTC-5 | 7:00 PM · Thu, Oct 1 * |
| Buenos Aires UTC-3 | 9:00 PM · Thu, Oct 1 * |
| Santiago UTC-3 | 9:00 PM · Thu, Oct 1 * |
| Chicago UTC-5 | 7:00 PM · Thu, Oct 1 * |
| Toronto UTC-4 | 8:00 PM · Thu, Oct 1 * |
| Madrid UTC+2 | 2:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Rome UTC+2 | 2:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Moscow UTC+3 | 3:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Warsaw UTC+2 | 2:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Lagos UTC+1 | 1:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Johannesburg UTC+2 | 2:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Sydney UTC+10 | 10:00 AM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
| Auckland UTC+13 | 1:00 PM · Fri, Oct 2 * |
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