Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve officially launches worldwide on October 2, 2026, though the timing of the release depends heavily on your geographic location. Bandai Namco is utilizing a simultaneous global unlock strategy, which means the game becomes available to everyone at the exact same moment regardless of their local time zone.
Because the global unlock is set for 00:00 CEST on October 2, players in North and South America will actually be able to begin their sorties on the afternoon or evening of October 1. This discrepancy is the primary reason why Steam storefronts in the United States list an October 1 release date, while official marketing often cites October 2.
Global Release Times by Time Zone
Since the game launches at a fixed point in time globally, the “New Zealand trick”—where players change their console region to gain early access—will not work for Ace Combat 8. Everyone gains access at the following times:
- Pacific Daylight Time (PDT): 3:00 PM on October 1
- Eastern Daylight Time (EDT): 6:00 PM on October 1
- Central European Summer Time (CEST): 00:00 AM on October 2
- Japan Standard Time (JST): 7:00 AM on October 2
- Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST): 8:00 AM on October 2
For those who purchased the Deluxe Edition, the Joker Flight Pack, or the Premium Joker Flight Pack, Early Access began on September 29, 2026. If you hold one of these editions, the game should already be available for download and play.
Download Size and Pre-load Details
Players should prepare significant storage space for the digital version of the game. On PlayStation 5, the initial download size is reported to be approximately 108.627 GB for version 01.001.001. Pre-loading for the Standard Edition opened on September 29, allowing players to finish the massive installation ahead of the global unlock time.
Developed by Bandai Namco Aces—a joint venture between Bandai Namco and ILCA—the title returns players to the fictional “Strangereal” universe. The narrative focuses on Theve, the capital of the Federation of Central Usea (FCU). The game is built on Unreal Engine 5 and features a new “Cloudly” weather system designed to enhance the visual fidelity of aerial dogfights and atmospheric effects.
The simultaneous launch covers PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. While physical copies may be subject to local retailer shipping schedules, digital versions will remain locked until the coordinated global release window on October 1 or 2, depending on your region.
