Bandai Namco’s Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has sold 1 million copies, and it got there faster than any earlier game in the long running flight combat series. The publisher shared the milestone on October 9, one week after the game launched worldwide on October 2 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam. In the US the Standard Edition costs $69.99 and the Deluxe Edition $89.99, according to Gematsu.

Why it is selling so fast

Wings of Theve is the first mainline Ace Combat in seven years, so it arrived with a lot of pent up demand. Bandai Namco Aces built it on Unreal Engine 5, and the campaign casts players as an ace pilot flying with a squadron called Joker Flight, made up of Baxter, Tasha and Coster. Between missions, first person scenes follow the pilot from the cockpit to the ground.

Bandai Namco thanked players in a short message: “We express our gratitude to all the ace pilots around the world.” The company also said it will keep releasing updates, Push Square reported.

For context, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is still the best selling game in the series, at 7.5 million units since its 2019 launch, according to Push Square. Bandai Namco never said how quickly that game reached its first million, but Push Square notes it took well over a year to reach two million.

Editions and what you get

  • Standard Edition: the base game
  • Deluxe Edition: adds a Customizable Cosmetic Set and a Premium Ace Pass Plus voucher, plus early access that opened on September 29
  • Joker Flight Pack: a Bandai Namco Store exclusive with the Deluxe content, a vinyl soundtrack set and a hardcover art book

The Premium Ace Pass is also sold on its own. It unlocks the first 30 pass levels right away and adds a season of aircraft skins, avatar costumes and an extra playable aircraft. Digital preorders came with a copy of the 2006 classic Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War and a playable F-14A.

Beyond the campaign, Ace Combat Online is described as the largest online mode in the series, with an online lobby, custom avatars, cooperative play and cross-platform play, according to Gematsu.

Who should buy it

Buy it if you enjoyed Ace Combat 7 or want an arcade style flight game that is easy to pick up. The series has always been designed around a regular controller, so a flight stick is a nice extra rather than a requirement. Themed flight sticks from HORI and Thrustmaster are on sale for players who want a more physical setup.

Skip it if you are looking for a realistic flight simulator with detailed cockpit systems: Ace Combat favours fast missiles and dramatic dogfights over procedures. For most players the Standard Edition is enough. Now that early access is over, the Deluxe Edition mainly makes sense if you plan to play the seasonal pass content.