Bandai Namco Aces’ game now has an exact release date, and it has only just missed one of the year’s most crowded months.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve delivers high-octane aerial action. Step into the cockpit and take flight as an elite pilot across stunning skies. Engage in intense dogfights, eliminate enemies, and move through gripping missions to earn your wings in this game developed by Project Aces, the acclaimed team behind the series. Campaign Mode offers spectacular visuals with dynamic, multi-layered cloudscapes that capture the majesty of living skies. Feel the rush of fast-paced, arcade-style gameplay while deploying powerful weapons to dominate the battlefield.

Beyond the aerial chaos, exciting first-person scenes reveal your pilot’s story through breathtaking cinematics. Experience the pressure of command, the weight of decisions, and the bonds formed in battle. Between missions, build relationships with squad members, face adversity, and prove that you are a true ace. Ace Combat Online delivers the most expansive multiplayer experience in the series’ history. Enter the franchise’s first online lobby and explore an airbase with your custom avatar before diving into multiplayer modes. Launch into online missions with pilots from around the world across various modes, including cooperative and cross-platform play.

The base edition of the game will cost $70, or €80. Pre-ordering will grant access to the F-14A as a playable aircraft, as well as Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, originally released for PlayStation 2. The Deluxe Edition will cost $90, or €100. In addition to the game, it includes a customizable cosmetic set and the Premium Ace Pass Plus voucher, meaning the season pass. The pre-order bonus includes the aircraft and game mentioned above, along with three days of early access. The Bandai Namco Store-exclusive $150 Joker Flight Pack includes all Deluxe Edition content, plus the Vinyl Collection: a numbered hardcover case with matte and glossy printing effects, a 15-song selection, two white vinyl records with four unique label designs, a full-print double gatefold sleeve, and a printed turntable mat in its own case. The pack also includes the Aces at War: A History 2029 art book, a hardcover volume with matte and glossy printing effects, 208 full-color interior pages, and an 8.5×11-inch format.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve launches on October 2 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC. Early access begins on September 29. That is still dangerously close to September.

Source: Gematsu