Updated
Updated · Eurogamer.net · Sep 2
Bandai Namco Unveils Ace Combat Online for Ace Combat 8 With 4v4 Modes and 2-Month Passes
Updated
Updated · Eurogamer.net · Sep 2

Bandai Namco Unveils Ace Combat Online for Ace Combat 8 With 4v4 Modes and 2-Month Passes

3 articles · Updated · Eurogamer.net · Sep 2

Summary

  • Ace Combat 8 will ship with Ace Combat Online, a separate companion suite spanning co-op PvE, PvP, PvPvE and limited-time event missions.
  • Two teams of four anchor several modes: Co-Op Assault pits squads against AI for points, while Co-Op Warfare adds direct team-vs-team combat alongside allied ground, air and sea units.
  • An eight-player Emergency Sortie raid revisits set-piece battles from earlier Ace Combat games, and the package also includes 4v4 team battles, free-for-all missions and a social airbase hub.
  • A free and paid Ace Pass runs in 2-month seasons, unlocking aircraft, weapons, parts and cosmetics, though pass aircraft will remain purchasable after each season ends.
  • Producer Manabu Shimomoto said the hub was built to address a fragmented fanbase after Ace Combat 7 sold 7.5 million copies and generated demand for a longer-lived community space.

Insights

How will Ace Combat Online's live-service grind and persistent social hubs impact the deep single-player experience veteran fans expect?
What hidden secrets does the ten-year time jump toward the Ace Combat 3 era hold for pilots in Wings of Theve?