Bandai Namco has unveiled Ace Combat Online, a new live-service component that will accompany the release of Ace Combat 8. This online extension introduces a variety of multiplayer modes designed for both competitive and cooperative play.
New Multiplayer Modes Announced
The developers have shared details of several new gaming modes through an official Ace Combat social media video. In the collaborative player versus environment (PvE) mode, Co-Op Assault, two teams of four players each compete to earn points by defeating AI-controlled enemies and achieving specific objectives. Another mode, Co-Op Warfare, features a player versus player versus environment (PvPvE) setup where teams also consist of four players. Players are supported by allied units on land, sea, and air, while aiming for high scores. The unique aspect is the presence of the opposing team which contributes to a dynamic and challenging gaming environment.
Social Spaces and Special Mission Challenges
Ace Combat Online also offers a social hub, reminiscent of “Top Gun,” where player avatars can congregate. This airforce base serves as a meeting point where players can interact, enjoy retro arcade games such as Pac-Man, or listen to classic Ace Combat soundtracks at a jukebox. Furthermore, the game will feature time-sensitive emergency missions, divided into Scramble and Emergency Sorties. Scramble pits a team of four against an NPC enemy team. Emergency Sorties involve up to eight players in epic PvE battles drawn from iconic Ace Combat scenarios.
Competitive Battles and Customisation Features
Additional limited-time 4v4 team battles and eight-player free-for-all contests are also part of the offering, which may have specific constraints to balance the competition. Progressing in Ace Combat Online allows participants to unlock new aircraft, weaponry, and parts, enhancing their customisation options. Players can personalise their planes with various abilities and aesthetics obtained through gameplay.
Introducing the Ace Pass
The online service includes the Ace Pass, available in both free and paid versions, acting as a battle pass. This enables players to unlock items for multiplayer use over two-month seasons. Though the aircraft featured in these passes are time-limited, they will be available for purchase even after the season concludes.
Developer Insights and Fan Experience
Manabu Shimomoto, producer of Ace Combat 8, has pointed to the desire to create a more connected fan community as a key motivation for the social hub, following Ace Combat 7’s successful sale of 7.5 million copies. At Gamescom, he remarked on the global fanbase’s needs, explaining, “Ace Combat 7’s success brought fans together, but there was demand for more community engagement. Providing a digital lobby addresses this, aiming for Ace Combat 8 to not only capture a wide audience but to retain it for long-term success.”
Reporting based on coverage first published by eurogamer.net.