Ace Combat 8 pre-orders bundle Ace Combat Zero, with no separate sale planned

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is scheduled to launch on October 2, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, but its pre-order offer carries an unusually consequential extra: a copy of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War. The PlayStation 2 game originally released in 2006, and it is being positioned as a pre-order-only bonus across PC and console versions of the new game.

That distinction matters. Kazutoki Kono, Bandai Namco’s brand director, has said Ace Combat Zero was prepared specifically as a bonus and that there are no plans to sell it separately. That does not make a later standalone release impossible forever, but it does mean players who specifically want the older game should treat a qualifying pre-order as the currently confirmed route to receive it.

The offer is available with either the standard edition or the Deluxe Edition of Wings of Theve. In other words, the legacy-game bonus is not reserved for the more expensive tier. That makes the standard version the practical choice for buyers interested in Zero rather than early access or additional digital content.

What comes with each Ace Combat 8 edition

The standard edition contains the base game and qualifies for the Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War bonus. Reported digital pricing is $69.99 in the US and £54.99 on Steam in the UK. Physical standard editions for PS5 and Xbox Series X have been listed at $69.99 in the US, while UK physical listings cited range from £64.95 to £69.99.

The Deluxe Edition costs $20 / £20 more than the standard version. Its stated additions are:

• Three days of early access before the October 2 launch date.
• A Premium Ace Pass Plus Voucher.
• A customizable cosmetic set.
• The same Ace Combat Zero pre-order bonus included with the standard edition.

Early access means Deluxe owners can start the new game three days before the standard release, rather than receiving a different release date for the game itself. The Premium Ace Pass Plus Voucher is an included voucher item; no further contents for it are established here, so prospective buyers should avoid assuming it covers any particular future download or expansion beyond what is officially specified at purchase.

There are also premium physical packages named the Joker Flight Pack and Premium Joker Flight Pack through Bandai Namco’s online store. The Joker Flight Pack includes the base game, Deluxe content, an ACES at WAR A HISTORY 2029 artbook, two LP records and a slipmat. The Premium Joker Flight Pack adds an XXL LED gaming mousepad and a woven patch. They are not described as a traditional Collector’s Edition, but they plainly serve the collector-oriented end of the release lineup.

Why the Ace Combat Zero bonus is the key detail

Pre-order incentives often amount to cosmetics, currency or an early unlock. This one is different because it concerns access to a complete, older entry in the series. Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War began life on PlayStation 2 in 2006, so its inclusion connects the new release to a game associated with older hardware rather than merely adding a cosmetic item to Wings of Theve.

Related coverage includes Ace Combat 8 Pre-Orders Include Ace Combat Zero, With No Separate Sale Planned.

There is a precedent within the series: Ace Combat 5 was offered as a pre-order bonus for Ace Combat 7. Still, the notable point for this new offer is the stated lack of a separate-sale plan. For anyone deciding whether to wait for a discount after launch, that creates a genuine trade-off. Waiting may suit those who only want the new title, but it risks missing the currently announced method of getting Zero.

It is also worth separating two questions that can easily get blurred together. A buyer may be able to find an older physical PS2 copy second-hand, but that is not the same thing as receiving the version tied to the Wings of Theve pre-order program. The latter is the bonus being discussed, and it is the one for which there is no announced standalone purchase option.

Platform and purchase checks worth making

Wings of Theve is coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. The pre-order bonus has been described as available when ordering PC, PS5 or Xbox versions, but buyers should still read the product page for their exact platform and edition before checking out. Retail listings can vary by territory, and physical and digital storefronts do not always present bonus details in the same place.

For physical-console buyers, the standard edition has been listed through major US retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and GameStop. UK listings have appeared at Amazon, Very, The Game Collection and Currys. Availability and delivery dates are retailer-specific. A listed pre-order does not necessarily guarantee arrival on launch day, particularly where a store states delivery may occur on or shortly after October 2.

For PC players, the reported Steam price is $69.99 / £54.99. The crucial task is not comparing every storefront’s delivery estimate but confirming the bonus language before the order is completed. A product page that explicitly identifies Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War as a pre-order bonus offers much clearer reassurance than one that only lists the base game or Deluxe extras.

A sensible checklist before ordering

1. Choose the intended platform: PC, PS5 or Xbox Series X/S.
2. Decide whether three days of early access and the Deluxe items are worth the additional $20 / £20.
3. Verify that the selected listing explicitly includes Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.
4. For physical orders, check the stated delivery timing rather than assuming release-day arrival.
5. Keep the purchase confirmation and any bonus-redemption instructions supplied with the order.

A preservation question, not just a purchasing perk

The offer also highlights a familiar problem for older games: access can be attached to a narrow window instead of a permanent store listing. For series fans, the practical question is whether to commit to a new release now to secure a past one. For the wider medium, it is another example of why legacy games can be hard to revisit when formal availability is limited.

That broader concern extends beyond flight games. Efforts to make unavailable game history easier to return to remain relevant, including projects such as a fan-made browser port intended to make a lost Kingdom Hearts chapter easier to revisit. The circumstances are different, but the underlying issue is similar: older games and story material can become difficult to access even when players still want them.

For now, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve buyers have a clear, time-limited decision. The standard edition is enough to secure the announced Ace Combat Zero bonus; the Deluxe edition adds early access and the listed extras. What has not been announced is an alternative standalone purchase for The Belkan War, making the pre-order period the important deadline for players who want both games through an official current release.