In the jet shooter’s online mode, cooperative PvPvE battles and boss fights await you. In addition, a large base serves as a hub for up to 100 players.
Bandai Namco offers new insights into the online game modes, progression and reward systems, and the virtual Air Base in Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve.
Your progress in the game’s online mode is separate from the campaign, and there are also separate save files.
You start with a customizable avatar that can be further personalized throughout the game with unlocked rewards and cosmetic items. With this avatar, you’ll spend time at the virtual Air Base, which serves as a lobby for up to 100 players.
PvE and PvPvE: An Overview of the Main Multiplayer Modes
According to the developer, Ace Combat 8 offers two main online multiplayer modes:
- Co-Op Assault focuses on PvE battles: Two teams of four players each compete against one another and try to score as many points as possible in missions featuring various enemies and objectives.
- Co-Op Warfare is the game’s PvPvE mode. Here, two teams of four face off against each other while also having to deal with NPC units. The gameplay is based, among other things, on the “Threat Level” and “Aces” mechanics. The team with the highest total score at the end of the match wins and receives additional rewards.
For a limited time, additional emergency missions are also available as you progress through online mode:
- Scramble missions offer thrilling aerial battles in which a team of four takes on a particularly dangerous NPC air squadron.
- Emergency Sortie missions present a special challenge for both newcomers and Ace Combat veterans. Eight pilots face off against iconic colossal weapons from the series’ history. Some of these missions even allow players to relive legendary boss battles from previous Ace Combat titles.
Limited-time PvP events featuring 4-on-4 team battles and deathmatches (up to 8 players) will also be available in online mode.
Social Hub and Ace Combat Store: What the Air Base Has to Offer
Bandai Namco describes the Air Base lobby as a key component of the online mode. There, you can start matchmaking, set out on missions, or complete the military training mode.
“If you’d like to take it a bit easier, you can simply hang out at the Air Base and interact with pilots from all over the world via chat, try out classic Bandai Namco arcade games in the virtual arcade, or listen to familiar soundtracks from previous Ace Combat titles on the jukebox,” the company says. “In addition, there’s a supply store as well as the Ace Combat Store, where in-game currency earned through missions can be used to purchase aircraft, cosmetic customization items, special in-game boosts, and other items.”
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will be available on October 2, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (via Steam). Early Access for Deluxe Edition purchasers begins on September 29.
