Players who pre-ordered the deluxe edition of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve have found themselves in a battle not just with in-game adversaries, but with Bandai Namco's PC release strategy for a bonus classic title. While the standard edition offers a copy of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, a series entry previously unavailable on PC, its implementation as downloadable content for Ace Combat 8 has drawn significant criticism, impacting the new game's Steam review average.
Numerous negative reviews on Steam point to several issues, including performance problems, multiplayer connectivity, and flight physics. However, a prevalent complaint revolves around the perceived bait-and-switch regarding Ace Combat Zero. Initially described on the store page as a "standalone application separate from the ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE full game," the listing was reportedly updated to state that "ACE COMBAT ZERO: THE BELKAN WAR (Steam Version) is available as a DLC executable launched separately from the base game."
This change in description has fueled player frustration, particularly concerning the practicalities of accessing the older game. One common grievance is the substantial storage requirement: players must install Ace Combat 8's approximately 140GB footprint to access the 3.2GB Ace Combat Zero DLC. This has led to accusations of unnecessary bloat for a game released in 2006.
Further dissatisfaction stems from a disparity between the PC and console versions. While console players receive a separate achievement or trophy list for Ace Combat Zero, PC players do not. Additionally, the Steam version lacks independent cloud save functionality, a feature that would be beneficial for playing on portable devices like the Steam Deck, where the older title should perform well.
Some speculation suggests that licensing restrictions for the aircraft featured in Ace Combat Zero may have prevented its release as a truly standalone PC product, citing developer comments from a September livestream that indicated licenses only permit distributing the game for free. However, critics argue that if a standalone package is possible on consoles, a workaround should exist for Steam. As an example, Hitman 3's content is managed as downloadable content for Hitman World of Assassination, demonstrating alternative methods for game distribution on the platform.
As more players who did not pre-order begin to review Ace Combat 8, this controversy surrounding the Ace Combat Zero bonus is likely to continue shaping the game's reception on Steam.