Ace Combat 8 Wings of Theve Goes Live at These Times Around the World

The weather is good, the hour is near, and permission has been given to launch. That is the official pitch for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, and it arrives Thursday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. EDT on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC.

The game comes from Bandai Namco Aces, a newly formed development team. According to a review by Giovanni Colantonio for Polygon, the team “goes all-out for a spectacular war game filled with a diversity of aerial operations that test your flying skills every which way it can.”

Global Clock

The game releases globally at once, but the clock moves differently around the world. Here is what the launch looks like in each time zone:

There is a small catch for those who bought the deluxe or Joker Flight Pack editions. They can already access the game via early access, meaning the game is not entirely locked until the scheduled launch.

Pre-Order Bonuses

The pre-order rewards are the same across all versions of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve. Buyers get two things:

1. The F-14A, a playable aircraft you can use in the game.
2. A copy of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, a port of the 2006 game of the same name.

The Belkan War port is a notable addition. Its inclusion means returning players get a classic alongside the new game.

The deluxe and Joker Flight Pack editions add more. Some of these rewards are exclusive to the Joker Flight Pack:

• 3 days early access
• Premium Ace Pass Plus voucher
• Customizable cosmetic set
• Aces at War: A History 2029 (Joker Flight Pack)
• Two LP vinyls with slipcover and slipmat (Joker Flight Pack)

Early Access Explained

The early access window for the deluxe and Joker Flight Pack buyers is a standard trick in the industry. It lets people who paid more start playing before the full game is live.

It also creates a split between players. Those with the base game wait for the standard launch, while the deluxe crowd gets a head start.

The Review From Polygon

Colantonio’s review for Polygon is positive. His quote about the team going “all-out” suggests a game that pushes hard for spectacle.

The review focuses on the aerial operations that test flying skills, and the quote ties directly to that promise.

What The Pre-Order Bundle Includes

The pre-order bundle is generous. The F-14A is a familiar machine for fans of the series, and giving it as a bonus aircraft pleases longtime players. The Belkan War port is the bigger surprise.

The deluxe and Joker Flight Pack editions add the extra items listed above. The history book and the vinyls are niche, but they speak to collectors who want physical goods alongside their digital purchases. The customizable cosmetic set is a common bonus, but the premium voucher adds value for players who plan to spend more time in the game’s economy.

Platforms And Their Times

The game is available on three platforms, which gives players a choice about where to play. PlayStation 5 owners get the standard version, as do Xbox Series X players and PC users. The platforms share the same release time, so the clock is consistent no matter where you choose to fly.

The launch day itself will be busy. Players in western Europe will mark the moment at midnight on Friday, Oct. 2, while players in the east coast of Australia will have to wait until 8 a.m. AEST on Friday, Oct. 2.

The Bottom Line

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve launches Thursday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. EDT. The pre-order bonuses are generous, the early access window is a draw, and the new studio’s pedigree is worth watching. The game is built for players who want to test their flying skills against a wide range of aerial operations, and the review suggests the team is delivering on that promise.

Whether the game lives up to the hype will depend on how well it executes in practice. The early access window and the Belkan War port are solid reasons to consider a preorder, but the final verdict will come from actual flight time, not from the schedule alone.

The weather is good, the hour is near, and permission has been given to launch. For players on the west coast of North America, that means 3 p.m. PDT. For players in western Europe, it means midnight on Friday, Oct. 2. The game is ready when you are.

Source material: “Ace Combat 8 Wings of Theve release time in your time zone,” Polygon.

Ace Combat · Bandai Namco · flight sim · game release · preorder bonuses · Wings of Theve