More than 52,000 pilots took off together on Steam. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has the best start in the series’ history on PC, nearly 4 times Ace Combat 7’s record, with a Metacritic score of 88. But the PC version is also hit by crash bugs and a controversial pre-order bonus.
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Launch | October 2, 2026 (Deluxe edition early access from September 28) |
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam) |
| Steam peak players | 52,694 (October 3), versus 13,758 for Ace Combat 7 |
| Metacritic | 88 (PS5), 86 (PC) |
| Steam reviews | Mostly Positive, about 79% from more than 13,000 reviews |
| Steam price in Vietnam | 1,390,000 VND (standard), 1,790,000 VND (Deluxe) |
A new Ace Combat record
According to SteamDB, Ace Combat 8 hit 52,694 concurrent players on Steam on October 3, a day after launch. Ace Combat 7, the previous game released in 2019, peaked at only 13,758. According to GamingBolt, Ace Combat 8 also ranks third among Bandai Namco games launched on Steam, behind Armored Core 6 and Digimon Story: Time Stranger.
What do critics say?
Ace Combat 8 has a Metacritic score of 88 for the PS5 version (61 reviews) and 86 for the PC version. PC Gamer scored it 92/100, TheSixthAxis and GamingBolt both gave 9/10, and GameSpot 8/10. Critics praise the air combat, the campaign and the music.
The story casts the player as a pilot rescued from the sea, who is given the name, card and position of the legendary pilot Rex Cope, the “Wings of Theve”, who has just died, so that the legend lives on.
The downsides: crashes and the Ace Combat Zero issue
- PC crash bugs: many players hit crashes to desktop. Bandai Namco opened a bug-report thread and said it is working on a fix, but as of October 6 there was no official patch.
- Limited controller customization: players using flight sticks and HOTAS complain about fewer options than in Ace Combat 7, and Bandai Namco has apologized.
- Ace Combat Zero: the Ace Combat Zero remake is a pre-order bonus, but on Steam it can only be opened with Ace Combat 8 installed (at least 150 GB), while on PS5 and Xbox it runs standalone. Bandai Namco explained that this is due to licensing limits with aircraft manufacturers, apologized and is looking at letting Zero run standalone on Steam, but has not made a firm promise.
OtaHub’s take
Nearly 4 times the previous game shows Ace Combat is no longer a niche series on PC. Steam reviews also climbed from about 72% to 79% after a few days, a sign that the core experience is good enough to offset the technical issues. If you play on PC, wait for the first crash patch, while console fans of combat flight games can jump in right away.
FAQ
How much is Ace Combat 8 on Steam in Vietnam?
When OtaHub checked on October 6, 2026: 1,390,000 VND for the standard edition and 1,790,000 VND for the Deluxe edition.
Which platforms is Ace Combat 8 on?
PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam.
Does Ace Combat 8 have online play?
Yes. According to Bandai Namco, the game has an air base lobby for up to 100 players together (cross-platform), co-op and 4v4 competitive modes, plus an 8-player mode.
Why is Ace Combat Zero on Steam drawing complaints?
Ace Combat Zero is a pre-order bonus, but on Steam it can only be launched through Ace Combat 8, while on PS5 and Xbox it runs standalone. Bandai Namco says the reason is licensing limits, has apologized and is looking at allowing standalone play, but has not made a firm promise.
Sources: SteamDB (via Steam news), Steam (Ace Combat 8, checked October 6, 2026), Bandai Namco, Metacritic, GamingBolt, PC Gamer, TheSixthAxis, GameSpot, Automaton, Inven Global.