Ace Combat’s 30th Anniversary Hints at 8th Installment

Bandai Namco is pulling out all the stops to celebrate 30 years of Ace Combat, boasting over 5 million sales for Ace Combat 7—and that’s before the upcoming Switch release. A pointed tease from series director Kazutoki Kono suggests the next dogfight is already in the works.

Numbers and a Director’s Promise

Hitting the 30-year milestone alongside impressive sales figures is more than a party popper—it’s a clear signal. In his anniversary message, Kono wrote, “It is time to take flight to even greater heights,” hinting that the franchise’s future is already taxiing on the runway.

ILCA’s Role Raises Expectations

ILCA, known for its collaborations on major Bandai Namco titles, is widely believed to be developing the next installment. Fans of the classic Strangereal universe will be watching closely to see if ILCA can deliver the operatic storytelling and adrenaline-fueled aerial combat the series is known for.

Watch for the Next Reveal

With a major Bandai Namco showcase just around the corner, all signs point to an Ace Combat 8 announcement—though an anniversary date alone doesn’t guarantee a trailer. Only a concrete gameplay reveal will confirm that the new title is ready for takeoff.

What Fans Want to Know

• Will Strangereal’s lore remain front and center, or will there be a live-service push?
• Can ILCA avoid feature bloat and preserve the series’ signature setpieces?
• Is there room for VR support or deeper replayability in the next campaign?

Feature	Detail
Publisher	Bandai Namco
Status	Unannounced (likely Ace Combat 8)
Genres	Flight Combat, Action
Platforms	TBA (Previous: PS4, PS5, Xbox One/Series, PC, Switch)

Until we see Ace Combat 8 in action, temper your hype—but don’t look away. If Bandai Namco is stoking the fires this much, the next epic dogfight might be closer than ever.