Ace Combat 8 Breaks Record

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has set a new record for the series with over 52,000 concurrent Steam players, nearly four times the number of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown in 2019. The game was released on October 2 and reached this milestone a day later.

Giovanni Colantonio, a video game journalist, has praised the game's 25-hour single-player campaign, featuring 30 thrilling missions. He also noted that the live-service multiplayer component, Ace Combat Online, has its highs and lows.

The developer of Ace Combat 8 has apologized for the confusion surrounding the pre-order bonus, Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War. The game was not a standalone product on Steam, contrary to what players were led to believe, and can only be played through Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve.

The developer stated that due to licensing restrictions and platform-related considerations, Ace Combat Zero cannot be released on Steam as a standalone application. They apologized for any confusion or frustration caused and are evaluating possible options to address player concerns.

The initial backlash affected the game's user review rating on Steam, but it has since recovered from Mixed to Mostly Positive. The developer is working with platform partners to explore potential solutions.

Ace Combat Online's menus have been criticized for being convoluted, making it difficult for players to access certain features. The game's live-service model has also been criticized for its excessive microtransactions.

The developer's statement has offered some hope to players, as they are actively exploring potential solutions to address the concerns surrounding Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.

The game's success has been notable, with many players praising its engaging gameplay and multiplayer mode. However, the controversy surrounding the pre-order bonus has marred the game's launch.