Ace Combat 8 Sets Steam Record Despite Belkan War Controversy

Key points

• Ace Combat 8 peaked at 52,000 concurrent Steam users, nearly four times the 2019 record of Ace Combat 7.
• The game topped Steam's global top sellers chart despite a 'Mostly Positive' review score of 78%.
• Project Aces apologized for the Belkan War pre-order bonus being bundled as DLC on PC due to licensing restrictions.
• The developer is in discussions with platform partners to potentially release Ace Combat Zero as a standalone Steam title.
• Players criticized performance issues, frame rates, and the requirement to install the 150GB Ace Combat 8 to play the lightweight Belkan War port.

Background

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is the first mainline entry in the series in seven years, launching on October 2, 2026, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Prior to launch, pre-orders included a modern port of the 2006 title Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War. Critics had praised the new game for its cinematic storytelling and tactical 'Cloudly' weather engine, though some noted pacing issues. The pre-order bonus was initially marketed as a separate title, but the Steam version was changed to a DLC requiring the full installation of Ace Combat 8, sparking backlash from players who felt misled, especially since the console version offers the older game as a standalone application.

How outlets are covering it

TechPowerUp highlights the record-breaking concurrent player count and the game's top-selling status, while noting that performance issues and the Belkan War confusion have kept review scores from being higher. Eurogamer focuses on the developer's apology and the technical reasons for the DLC bundling, emphasizing the lack of clear communication to consumers. GamingBolt reports on the developer's ongoing efforts to potentially release Ace Combat Zero as a standalone title, noting that while the main game is well-received, the pre-order controversy has caused significant frustration among fans. All sources agree that the game's commercial success is undeniable, but the handling of the pre-order bonus has been a major point of contention.

Why it matters

The launch of Ace Combat 8 demonstrates the potential for niche franchises to achieve massive commercial success on PC, even after long hiatuses. However, the Belkan War controversy highlights the risks of unclear communication regarding pre-order bonuses and platform-specific distribution methods. The developer's response and potential future changes to the distribution model could set a precedent for how other publishers handle legacy titles and pre-order incentives on digital platforms.

What to watch

Project Aces is currently in discussions with platform partners to determine if Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War can be released as a standalone title on Steam. The developer has not guaranteed any changes but is actively exploring solutions. Additionally, players are awaiting patches to address performance issues and frame rate concerns, which could improve the game's review score. The outcome of these discussions and the release of any patches will likely influence the long-term reception of the game and the publisher's reputation.