Ace Combat 8 has rapidly ascended to become the fastest-selling game in the venerable aerial combat series, achieving one million sales approximately one week after its release. Bandai Namco confirmed the milestone in a recent press release, also noting that the eighth mainline installment is the second highest-rated game in the franchise, with Metacritic scores ranging from 86 to 88 percent. Ace Combat 4 remains the series' highest-rated entry with a score of 89 percent.
The game saw a strong launch on Steam, indicating significant player engagement from the outset. However, the release was not without its complications. Bandai Namco faced backlash concerning the PC version of the included game, Ace Combat 8: The Belkan War, which was not a standalone title as it was on consoles, leading to various player issues.
A key addition in Ace Combat 8 is its comprehensive suite of online multiplayer modes, designed to emulate live service features. These include cooperative PvE missions, PvPvE engagements, and a central social hub where players can interact and showcase their aircraft. The game was released on October 2nd.