Bandai Namco has announced a live-action prequel miniseries for its upcoming flight combat simulator, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve. Titled "Hour Zero," the four-part series will stream exclusively on IGN and its YouTube channel ahead of the game's October 2 release date. The show will feature Lost's Josh Holloway and Superman Returns' Brandon Routh.
The miniseries is set to debut its first 6 to 11-minute installment on September 15, with subsequent episodes released every few days leading up to the game's launch. The full schedule is as follows: Act 1 on Tuesday, September 15; Act 2 on Thursday, September 17; Act 3 on Wednesday, September 23; and an epilogue on Tuesday, September 29.
"Hour Zero" will explore the stories of three strangers navigating the initial days of the Republic of Sotoa's invasion of the Federation of Central Usea. Holloway portrays a pilot with nowhere to land, Routh plays a doctor who saved an enemy combatant, and Tamlyn Tomita stars as a news anchor silenced for reporting the truth. Bandai Namco states that these characters' experiences will set the stage for the narrative players will encounter in Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve's campaign mode.
Holloway, who previously appeared in the game Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, commented on his return to the gaming sphere. He noted that his involvement in "Hour Zero" rekindled his passion for gaming, a hobby he had largely put aside for many years. He described the experience of acting in the series as visceral and said that the layered storytelling enhanced the stakes of the game.
Holloway also expressed a long-standing admiration for fighter pilot roles, tracing his interest back to the TV series "Baa Baa Black Sheep." While his aspirations of becoming a fighter pilot were dashed by the rigorous academic requirements, he sees acting in the Ace Combat universe as a way to fulfill that fantasy. He also suggested that the Ace Combat world has potential for a feature film adaptation, similar to his interest in adapting properties like Red Dead Redemption.
Having had the opportunity to play Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, Holloway offered a piece of advice for new players: "Be aggressive." He cautioned that hesitation can lead to an opponent gaining an advantage, urging players to maintain an offensive mindset.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is scheduled for full release on October 2, with Deluxe Edition holders gaining early access on September 29. The game is available for preorder on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.