The development team behind Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has issued an apology following confusion and frustration among players regarding a pre-order bonus. Early adopters who purchased the Deluxe edition were dismayed to discover that the included copy of 2006's Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War was not a standalone product as they had initially understood.
Players who paid a premium for early access found that Ace Combat Zero could only be played by installing the new title, Ace Combat 8. This integration also meant that The Belkan War was locked out of its own Steam cloud saves and achievements, as it operates under the umbrella of the newer game.
In a statement released on Steam, the developer clarified the situation, citing licensing restrictions and platform-specific considerations as the reasons why Ace Combat Zero could not be offered as a standalone application on the platform. "As a result, we have chosen to make Ace Combat Zero available through Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve," the statement read. "We apologise for any confusion or frustration caused by our failure to clearly communicate this distribution method in advance."
The studio acknowledged the player feedback concerning these issues and stated that they are actively evaluating possible options. "We have carefully reviewed player feedback regarding this issue and understand the concerns that have been raised," the statement continued. "We are currently evaluating possible options, including discussions with our platform partners."
While the developer could not guarantee that changes would be made, they affirmed their commitment to exploring potential solutions and working with relevant partners to address player concerns. The initial negative reaction impacted Ace Combat 8's user review rating on Steam, but it has since recovered and moved from Mixed to Mostly Positive, with further improvement expected as the game's official launch date approaches.