'Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve' is the latest entry in the 'Ace Combat' series being developed by Project Aces. As a new numbered entry in a franchise spanning over 30 years, it inherits the familiar feel of aerial combat that longtime fans know while adding new elements across various features, including combat, squadron systems, and online play.
Notably, this title aims to deliver the largest campaign in the series' history. The developers explained that even compared to 'ACE COMBAT 3 electrosphere,' which featured multiple routes and endings, this game packs even more content, boasting the franchise's largest scale across campaign missions, cutscenes, and cinematics.
Online play also takes on a much larger role than before. The campaign and online modes are structured independently from one another, with cooperative PvE against AI alongside team-based PvP revealed so far. The developers plan to run online play as a live service after release, adding content based on player feedback.
In addition, a new playable fighter jet featured in the game, the 'FA-36 Game,' was revealed for the first time during the Bilibili First Look event in Shanghai on September 3. It is a fictional stealth fighter jet that does not exist in reality, featuring a tailless design and 3D thrust vectoring nozzles. Fans have shown keen interest as they can see a much more detailed version of a similar aircraft that appeared in 'ACE COMBAT 3 electrosphere,' which was released in 1999.
Following a hands-on demo to test out the new systems in 'Ace Combat 8,' a group interview was held with Brand Director Kazutoki Kono. Visiting China for the first time to promote Ace Combat, Brand Director Kono answered a wide variety of questions covering everything from the campaign aimed at achieving the series' largest scale to new aircraft classifications, online content, and newly introduced combat systems.
You mentioned that 'Ace Combat 8' has the largest scale in the series. Is that still true even when compared to 'ACE COMBAT 3 electrosphere,' which had multiple routes and endings?
" The story of 'Ace Combat 8' is linear, but I want to say that it boasts a larger volume than 'ACE COMBAT 3 electrosphere' in many ways. It includes a higher number of campaign missions, cutscenes, cinematics, and various other content. That is why we can say it is the largest campaign in the history of the series.
In this title, aircraft are divided into four roles. What are the differences between them?
" We enhanced the distinct traits of Electronic Warfare Aircraft alongside the existing Fighter, Attacker, and Multirole roles. Fighters are effective when dealing with airborne enemies, while Attackers have a wider variety of ground attack options. Multirole aircraft can be seen as sitting right in between.
Electronic Warfare Aircraft have a slightly different mechanic. Using special electronic warfare armaments can boost the attack power of allied aircraft within a certain radius. In the campaign, if you order a squadron member to pilot an Electronic Warfare Aircraft, the player can also receive that support. Each aircraft has a different role, and its traits can be adjusted through the weapons equipped.
Is there a possibility that new types of missions or game modes will be added to ACE COMBAT ONLINE in the future?
" What we have revealed so far mainly falls into two categories. One is PvE, where you team up with other players to fight AI enemies, and the other is PvP, where two teams compete against each other.
We cannot reveal other modes right now. However, online play will operate as a live service. We plan to grow it while listening to players' feedback and desires in the future. If many people enjoy online play and want new content, we can naturally consider creating additional content.
This game is also drawing interest through its characters and story from players experiencing 'Ace Combat' for the first time. Is there anything prepared to lower the barrier to entry for beginners?
" Watching everyone play today, I was initially worried because people didn't show much expression, but when I asked, they said they were focusing so hard on the game that they didn't have room to react. (Laughs)
To answer your question, we prepared a comprehensive tutorial. The early part of the game—specifically from the prologue to Mission 2—is structured so players can enjoy character dialogue while naturally absorbing necessary information and learning the systems. There is also a separate training mode, so people coming to the series for the first time will be able to start easily.
Will 'ACE COMBAT ZERO,' which comes provided with 'Ace Combat 8,' be available for separate purchase later as well?
" That is not the case. 'ACE COMBAT ZERO' was strictly prepared as a bonus included with 'Ace Combat 8,' and we currently have no plans to sell it separately.
We consider 'Zero' to be a sort of gift to players purchasing this game. We hope players will enjoy 'ACE COMBAT ZERO' alongside 'Ace Combat 8.'
In this demo, impressive super-large weapons such as large transport aircraft and land battleships appeared. Are more of these massive weapons scheduled to appear?
" The campaign mode is already complete. On the other hand, because online play will continue as a live service, there is a possibility that new elements will be added during long-term service. Super-large weapons are also one of the key elements in online play.
Our design team tends to generate ideas very freely. The large transport aircraft was designed to effectively showcase this game's 'chain reaction.' Because it is a massive structure, it was well-suited to demonstrating chain destruction.
When I first heard about the land battleship, even I thought, 'A battleship driving on land? What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that?' (Laughs) But in the end, we moved in the direction of giving it a shot, and before I knew it, it was driving along.
The new character Tasha has garnered a lot of attention since her reveal. Did the development team expect this kind of response?
" Personally, I'm on Team Kate Evans, so I didn't expect Tasha to become this popular worldwide.
Work on Tasha started relatively early, and she was originally designed by a different artist. She is also the character that took the longest to finalize. Her story and direction were already set, but we kept modifying various aspects afterward, making her the character we refined the longest during development. That's why inside the development team, we jokingly call her 'the most expensive character.' (Laughs)
I think elements like her personality, outfit, and especially her sense of fashion in wearing military attire so uniquely happened to fit current trends well, which contributed to all the attention she received.
An online mode is being added to this title, but will it be possible to play through the entire campaign co-op with another player?
" The campaign and ACE COMBAT ONLINE are completely separate modes. We currently have no plans to make the campaign playable in co-op.
Are there any changes in the combat system that existing 'Ace Combat' fans will find fresh?
" The primary example is the 'chain explosions' we demonstrated today. In this game, we completely revamped how damage is dealt to enemies as well as the background damage calculations.
In previous games, you had to hit designated hitboxes precisely to deal damage to objects. In 'Ace Combat 8,' however, explosions occurring slightly outside that area can also deal damage, and a single explosion spreads to the surrounding area, causing chain destruction. Players will be able to enjoy much more dynamic destruction than before.
Will players need to actively utilize these new systems in actual missions as well?
" Yes. In addition to chain reaction, there are new elements such as a system utilizing two types of special weapons and a squadron command system.
To share a personal experience, there was a mission I couldn't clear at all initially, but after properly combining special weapons and squadron commands, I was able to clear it much more easily. The higher the difficulty of a mission, the more important it will become to properly utilize these new systems.
Finally, is there anything you would like to say to 'Ace Combat' fans in Asia?
" Personally, I have been with this series for over 30 years. In 'Ace Combat 8,' we packed in various features and elements that will feel fresh even to longtime fans who have enjoyed the series for a long time, and I am glad to present them to you.
Although we could only show the game for a limited time on this occasion, I hope 'Ace Combat 8' becomes known to and enjoyed by even more people in the future.
