Why are fighter jets so cool? Precisely because ordinary people can’t fly them, we’re drawn to them—and haven’t we all at least once thought about what it would be like to experience it for ourselves? The *Ace Combat* series fulfills that dream by letting players step into the cockpit and face all kinds of threats as a pilot.
With the latest installment, *ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE*, being unveiled at the Bandai Namco Entertainment booth at “TGS2026,” there was no way I could pass up the chance to try it out.
So, as someone who has played every title in the series—excluding the mobile games—I’m here to share my booth report and hands-on impressions of this “new sky.” O sky, tell me.
The “Wings of Theve” crest was displayed at the center of the booth
First off, I was amazed by the sheer scale of the booth. Dozens of demo stations were lined up in a row, every single one filled with players wearing headphones. It was so popular that the lines never seemed to stop.
And right at the center of the line of demo stations, displayed directly in front, was the “WINGS OF THEVE” crest. On a large panel with a texture reminiscent of a concrete wall was a design of a bird with orange wings spread wide, clutching a “WINGS OF THEVE” banner in its beak.On either side, navy, white, and red banners adorned with white stars were hung, creating a setting that resembled a corner of a base.
“Wings of Theve”—the game’s subtitle and the name the player will take on. The very composition of the characters flying in formation beneath that emblem served as a major visual spectacle.
And overhead was a giant monitor. Since it was mounted quite high, you had to look straight up at it. What stood out in the promotional video playing there was a shot of a person in a suit holding a pilot’s helmet emblazoned with the red wing crest.The helmet featured the same design as the central emblem, creating a seamless connection between the booth’s decor and the footage—a clever touch.
It effectively conveyed that the first-person cinematic scenes are one of the game’s main selling points.
Merchandise and Limited Edition Displays
On the side of the booth were display cases featuring merchandise and special limited editions.
Among them, the “ACE COMBAT 8 Collector’s Box,” prominently displayed in the center of the case, really caught the eye. In addition to the main game, the set includes the art book “ACES at WAR: A HISTORY 2029,” a multi-steel case, a USB drive containing in-game early-access items, and a Joker Squadron sticker set.
Furthermore, the package includes in-game digital content such as a Cosmetic Set and a PREMIUM ACE PASS PLUS Voucher, as well as the early purchase bonus: a port of *ACE COMBAT ZERO: THE BELKAN WAR* and the playable F-14A aircraft.
As someone who has followed this series for many years, I found the sight of that substantial art book sitting there to be truly precious.
Staying True to the Formula While Polishing It Up
The demo allowed players to choose from three missions within a 15-minute time limit. If time permitted, it was possible to play the second and third missions consecutively. I chose Mission 01, “Jokers Wild,” which will likely be the first mission in the main game.
The basic flow of the mission is the same as in previous Ace Combat titles. First, you watch the briefing, and then you select your aircraft.
Watching the briefing reveals whether the mission focuses on air-to-air combat, air-to-ground combat, or a combination of both, so it’s important to select your fighter accordingly. This ritual—reading the mission details to decide on your aircraft—remains firmly intact.
Also, starting with this installment, you can now carry two special weapons. However, carrying two special weapons reduces the ammunition count per weapon. It’s a tough choice: should you carry just one powerful special weapon, or two to handle any combat situation?
Once you’ve decided on your own aircraft, you’ll then select the aircraft for your three wingmen.In other words, you’re putting together your own “Joker Squadron” formation. That said, some players might find it tedious to carefully evaluate three aircraft every time. To address this, there’s a feature that automatically selects from your fleet based on the fighter you plan to pilot and the requirements of the mission. It’s a relief to be able to leave it to the game when you’re unsure.
Once the formation is set, you move on to customization using aircraft parts—a feature familiar from *Ace Combat 7*. This allows you to enhance your fighter or alter its performance. Note that customizations only apply to the player’s aircraft.
There are three types of equipment slots:
BODY: Primarily affects the fighter’s handling
ARMS: Primarily affects the performance of weapons such as missiles and machine guns
MISC: Reinforces armor or adds special abilities not covered by the previous two
One notable change is that the game no longer uses a cost system like *7*; instead, it now limits the number of parts you can equip per slot. Furthermore, the number of parts you can equip appears to vary depending on the fighter.It feels like a shift from the puzzle-like experience of juggling costs to free up slots to an approach that takes into account each aircraft’s unique characteristics, asking, “How many of these parts can this aircraft carry?”
Once everything is set, you proceed to the sortie confirmation screen. What I found interesting here is that the game praises you if your formation is well-suited to the mission. Hearing “That’s a good formation” makes you feel that all the thought you put into tailoring it to the mission was worth it—it’s a subtle but satisfying touch.
Wingmen Talk More Than Ever Before
Now, Mission 01 itself was essentially a tutorial mission.
What’s particularly noteworthy is just how much your wingmen talk. While listening to their banter, you’re given a slow, step-by-step tutorial on how to fly the aircraft from the very beginning. Lively radio chatter is one of the series’ charms, and it’s fully present right from the introductory tutorial. The game is designed so that even first-time players won’t get left behind.
After learning the basics of flying the aircraft, the mission moves on to shooting down an unidentified drone. Here, you’ll master the fundamentals of locking on and intercepting targets with missiles.
Furthermore, reinforcements—drones and the manned aircraft protecting them—appear, and you’ll experience evading enemy attacks and engaging in dogfights. Once you’ve defeated them all, the mission is complete. The way the game guides you through the stages—basic controls → lock-on and firing → evasion and aerial combat—is extremely thorough, making it an exceptionally well-crafted instructional tool.
The Sky, Sound Pressure, and Sense of Balance
Even though it was just a tutorial mission, the sensation the moment I took flight felt like “a whole new sky.”
First, there’s the sonic boom when you break the sound barrier. The sound pressure is intense. You can feel the pressure on your body even through your headphones, and your ears make you realize that the aircraft has entered a different realm. It was so clear that it drowned out the buzz of the crowd—I can only imagine what would happen if I played this at full volume at home.
Then there are the clouds. This game touts its three-dimensional, multi-layered cloud system, but when you actually plunge into them, your sense of up, down, left, and right disappears even more than in *Ace Combat 7*. Your field of view is swallowed up by white, and if you don’t look at your instruments, you’ll start to doubt which direction you’re even facing. That sense of unease, and the liberating feeling when your view suddenly opens up the moment you break through.I think this is the aspect where fans who’ve followed the series will most truly feel that the game has “deepened.”
You read the briefing, choose your aircraft, assemble your wingmen, customize your setup, and head out on a mission. That sense of familiarity is right in line with the series’ tradition, but once you take to the skies, the sounds and the clouds relentlessly remind you, “This is a whole new sky.” Fifteen minutes is nowhere near enough to get a proper feel for it, so I want to take flight into this new sky right now.
*ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE* is scheduled for release on October 2, 2026, for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and STEAM® (Early Access begins September 29).
ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE™ & ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
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