After more than six years, Project Aces finally revealed Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, the next title in the long-running flight combat franchise. It’s out later this year with more details still to come, but it seems that a few bits have leaked courtesy of updates to the game’s SteamDB listing.
As outlined by Ace Combat Wiki (via Ikcatcher), references to Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War have been added. On the surface, this is interesting because it only ever launched on the PlayStation 2 back in 2006, so a contemporary port may be on the way. The fact that it’s part of Ace Combat 8’s listing may point towards its availability as a pre-order bonus.
It wouldn’t be the first time that Bandai Namco has offered such benefits, much less in the Ace Combat franchise. Pre-orders for Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, for instance, included a copy of Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.
However, that’s not all. A closed network test is also seemingly on the cards for Ace Combat Online, which could be Ace Combat 8’s online PvP mode. While these updates don’t indicate a release timing, it wouldn’t be surprising to see an update at a major showcase like State of Play (rumored for the week of February 12th).
This is exciting news for Ace Combat fans! It’s great to see Project Aces bringing back the franchise after so long. The potential pre-order bonus sounds intriguing and could add even more value for players. Looking forward to seeing more details!
Absolutely, it’s a thrilling time for fans! The inclusion of Ace Combat Zero as a pre-order bonus could really enhance the nostalgic experience for long-time players, making the transition to Ace Combat 8 even more special.