Ace Combat 8 tops one million copies and posts the best launch in series history

Bandai Namco has confirmed that Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has now sold more than one million copies across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and PC. The game officially launched on October 2, although it was preceded by an early access period. According to Vandal, this makes the new entry the fastest-selling Ace Combat in its first week in the franchise's entire history. It's a record in every sense for a series that has been flying for decades.

The news matters for more than just the number. Arcade aerial combat games have been a niche genre for years, overshadowed by battle royales, hero shooters and live-service games. A flight game built around a traditional campaign getting off to a start like this shows the audience is still there. On top of that, this entry ships with what critics consider the most complete multiplayer in the series, so it's worth asking whether Ace Combat can finally have a competitive life of its own.

What you need to know

• Over one million copies sold since launch, across PS5, Xbox Series and PC.
• It's the fastest-starting Ace Combat in series history in its first week.
• The game released on October 2, though it had an early access period beforehand that also counts toward the total.
• Concurrent player numbers on Steam had already pointed to a strong launch.
• Bandai Namco promises more updates to keep pilots hooked.

From Skies Unknown to Wings of Theve

To understand the record, you have to look at the previous game. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, released in 2019, is the franchise's big modern hit: by the start of this year it had already passed 7 million copies. That figure built up over several years, sales and special editions included. The fact that Wings of Theve has started faster than its predecessor suggests it could reach that milestone in less time, although for now that's only a projection.

The game's official account celebrated the milestone with a thank-you message to the community:

“We would like to express our gratitude to all the skilled pilots around the world, and we will continue to release updates to ensure you keep enjoying the game.”

Who it affects and what could change

In its review, Vandal highlights a very solid campaign and the most complete multiplayer an Ace Combat has ever had, along with a large amount of content and plenty of visual spectacle. That combination speaks to two audiences we know well. On one side, competitive players looking for an online mode with depth and staying power. On the other, content creators, for whom a flashy game full of cinematic moments is a goldmine of clips, shorts and streams. With a large player base spread across consoles and PC, online matches should stay active for a good while.

Our take

Here at Underworld Lordz we're celebrating the success, but without getting carried away. There's an important caveat: early access counts toward the total, so comparing the first week with previous entries isn't entirely apples to apples. Bandai Namco is also reporting combined copies, with no platform breakdown and no actual player activity data. Selling a million is great commercial news, but it doesn't guarantee the multiplayer will still be alive six months from now.

That's the real test. If the online mode is as complete as people say, the company has a chance to turn Ace Combat into more than a single-player experience. For that to happen, it needs frequent balance patches, matchmaking that works, tools for running tournaments and clear communication with the community. The promise to keep updating the game is nice, but it's a generic line. We want to see a concrete roadmap.

For creators, the picture is clearer. It's a spectacular game, easy to follow for first-time viewers and packed with moments that look great on video. If you're looking for something different for your channel in a fall packed with releases, this could be a good opening. Just don't expect the competitive community to build itself: the players themselves will have to drive it.

What do you think?

Are you already flying in Wings of Theve, or are you staying grounded? We'd like to know whether you think the multiplayer is solid enough to take seriously. Would you sign up for an internal Ace Combat 8 league if we organized one on the team? Let us know in the team chat or on our Discord.