If you're just starting to find out Ace Battle Or, for the first time, actually considering giving it a shot, you're probably not alone. Despite the fact that the series started three decades ago, many players first jumped on board just seven years ago, when Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown’s multi-platform launch allowed it to reach a wider audience—and it certainly helped that it arrived with a lower barrier to entry than previous installments. According to Bandai Namco's official statement, Ace Battle 7 It managed to reach 7.5 million players worldwide, making it the biggest launch in the history of the series. now, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve It looks to capitalize on that huge fan base with an even bigger, more accessible, and more immersive arcade flight combat experience than its predecessor.
However Ace Battle It's more popular now than ever, the fact that it took the series nearly 30 years to get there begs the question of why. before Ace Battle 7The series was by no means a failure, and the number 7 in the title is proof enough of that. However, despite having a loyal following of dedicated players, it fared well compared to other action franchises. Well, recently Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve At the first-look event at Orbital Studios in Los Angeles, brand director Kazutoki Kono had some insight into why it took so long for the series to enter the mainstream, and it was what he claimed were “three misconceptions” that are often held by strangers.
Misconception #1: Ace Combat is a flight simulator
When I asked Kono what he believes are the most common misconceptions about people Ace BattleThis was coming from the perspective of someone whose first experience with the game was, in fact, Ace Battle 7 In 2019. I'm fully aware of the misconceptions I had about the stick before I actually laid hands on it, and based on the reviews I read and watched that finally convinced me to get it, my misconceptions were clearly aligned with many others. But I wanted to hear directly from Kono what the player reaction was to Bandai Namco's side, because I thought it would give me a better understanding of why. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve It seems to go to greater lengths to broaden its reach beyond what its predecessors were able to achieve. Kono said:
The first is that, at first glance, it looks like a flight simulator, and players often think, “Oh, the controls must be so subtle and detailed that it's going to be really difficult, so I'm not going to pick it up.” But when they actually pick it up, it feels like an arcade shooter that's too easy to immerse yourself in.
The first misconception he mentioned was right on the money for me. before Ace Battle 7I assumed the series was just a collection of flight simulation games, and I was never interested in that concept. I can understand why some people are, but it just doesn't provide the rewarding gameplay experience I like. But when I played Ace Battle 7 For the first time, it took me no time to be captivated by its arcade approach to air combat. It gave me the fantasy of being an ace pilot without actually understanding the real-world complexity of flying a fighter jet, and that distinction is probably the biggest reason the series managed to grab me in the first place. Ace Battle It looks a lot scarier from the outside than it actually feels once the player is in control, and, based on my hands-on time, it's actually kind of misleading. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve It appears to be constructed to address more directly.
Misconception #2: Ace Combat's eight entries create a huge barrier
The second misconception he mentions is actually one that I had never thought of before, at least not in the way he made it. when i used to play Ace Battle 7 After the first time and falling in love, my first thought was, “How am I even discovering this series now? How come six episodes have gone by without me noticing.” Ace Battle Really?” Obviously, that was all connected to the fact that I thought Ace Battle There was only one flight simulation game, but Kono still had another approach to players like me taking so long to get into the cockpit:
The second fact is that it has a number—8. And you look at 8, and I'm sure it feels very scary and a huge obstacle. But I'll actually flip the script and say that this franchise has endured eight iterations, and it's still going strong. In fact, it's getting stronger.
Of course, it makes perfect sense. At first glance, seeing that Ace Battle It has received eight mainline installments over the course of three decades, making it one of the longest-running video game franchises ever made, especially for newcomers. Jumping into a series with the second or third entry is one thing, but thinking about walking through the doors of its eighth installment is something else entirely. New players are bound to see that number 8 and assume they have too much to do, so they ignore it at all costs. But, to Kono's point, a better way to look at it is to admit that a series that has lasted so long is apparently successful for a reason, and it might be time to find out why for yourself.
Misconception #3: Ace Combat is All About Dogfights
The third misconception is one that I completely understand, and it's one that I had before I played Ace Battle 7. Not just thought Ace Battle It was all about dogfights and unlocking increasingly powerful planes that could be used in combat, I had no idea it had a story and a whole world for players to discover. sure, Ace Battle The stories are notorious for being strange, often to a fault. too Ace Battle 7The game that brought the series to the mainstream has narrative beats that are laughably absurd. Anyway, that's the part Ace Battleidentity, and that's enough to make sure it's not just a game to board a jet and shoot down enemy planes until the credits roll. As Kono explains:
And the third is, I think, people's idea that gameplay is almost all about dogfights and piloting and fighting, where you actually play it, there's a lot of human drama and character and world building and setting. So, we tried to focus a little more on the drama part in our first and second trailer, because I think when players actually play it, they think, “Oh my god, I didn't know there was so much depth to this world and there was so much character and interaction, etc.”
And as someone who has already played Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve At nearly six hours in, I can confidently say that this is already the most story-driven game in the series, and much of that comes from its first-person perspective. The upcoming entry is already proving itself to be a game that players can really immerse themselves in, instead keeping its characters and world at bay between missions. There are more cutscenes than I expected, but they didn't feel overwhelming during my preview. Instead, they made it easier to understand who I was fighting, what was going on around me, and why the conflict was important beyond just another objective marker.
That could happen Ace Battle 8The biggest advantage when it comes to winning over newcomers. It still looks like a flying combat game from the outside, and the number 8 in the title may still make some players feel like they're showing up too late. But if Kono's three misconceptions say anything, that's it Ace Battle It has always been easier to get it wrong than it should be. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve It seems to have been built from the ground up to correct this, giving players a clear path into its combat, its world and its story. If Ace Battle 7 opened the door to a much larger audience, The wings of Theve This looks like a game that might convince even more players to finally walk through it.
- issued
-
October 2, 2026
- ESRB
-
Juvenile / Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence, In-Game Purchases, User Interaction
- developer(s)
-
Aces named Bandai
