Ace Combat 8 brings squadron drama to Xbox in October

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is lining up its October launch with a bigger focus on the people flying beside you, not just the aircraft doing the exploding.

What's actually going on

Xbox Wire published its preview on 25 September 2026, confirming that Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve launches on 2 October for Xbox Series X|S. The Deluxe Edition gets early access from 28 September, and both editions are available to pre-order through the Xbox Store.

The game features more than 30 aircraft, with Fighters, Multirole, Attacker and Electronic Warfare roles. Players earn credits through missions and optional objectives, then spend them on new aircraft and upgrades covering manoeuvrability, acceleration and targeting.

The preview also highlights the carrier Endurance as a home base and Joker Flight as the new story hook. Professor, Tasha and Noise join the player in the squadron, while a d-pad command system lets pilots order attacks, support, dispersed fire or special-weapons clearance.

Xbox Wire says the first ten campaign missions cover escort work, bombing runs, air-to-air combat and larger set pieces, including a land battleship encounter and carrier-protection missions. Training missions are included for players who need to get comfortable with the controls before the dogfights become properly spiteful.

Our opinion

This sounds like the right kind of sequel: not a desperate reinvention, but a confident expansion of what makes Ace Combat sing. More than 30 aircraft is lovely, but making Joker Flight feel like a real squadron is the smarter upgrade because spectacle lands harder when you care who is calling for cover. The October date is close enough to feel real, and the Deluxe Edition’s early access is at least attached to a substantial campaign rather than a decorative hat.

Source: Xbox Wire, published 25 September 2026.