Ace Combat returned to the spotlight at The Game Awards 2025 with the official reveal of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve. The debut trailer focused on tone and story, but players quickly turned their attention to a different question. Will Ace Combat 8 support co-op and crossplay?
Early signs suggest the answer leans toward yes, though Bandai Namco and Project Aces have not yet issued a formal breakdown of multiplayer features.
What We Know So Far
Shortly after the Game Awards reveal, Ace Combat 8’s official Steam page went live. The listing includes two notable tags that stand out immediately: Online Co-op and Cross-Platform Multiplayer. These tags appear alongside confirmed modes such as single player and online PvP.
While storefront listings do not always tell the full story, they typically reflect features supplied by the publisher. In this case, the presence of both tags strongly suggests that Ace Combat 8 plans to support cooperative play and crossplay across platforms.
Does Ace Combat Traditionally Support Co-op?
Co-op has never been a core pillar of the Ace Combat series, but it has appeared before. Ace Combat 6 allowed players to fly together in cooperative missions, and that mode built a dedicated following. When Ace Combat 7 launched without co-op, many fans noticed its absence despite the game’s overall success.
That context matters. The inclusion of an online co-op tag on Ace Combat 8’s Steam page reads less like an experiment and more like a response to long standing community requests.
How Crossplay Could Change Ace Combat 8?
If cross-platform multiplayer arrives as advertised, Ace Combat 8 would mark a significant step forward for the franchise. Crossplay would allow players on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC to fly together without platform barriers.
For a game built around coordinated air combat, this feature could extend the life of cooperative modes and reduce matchmaking friction. It also aligns with broader industry trends that emphasize shared ecosystems over isolated player pools.
What Remains Unconfirmed
Bandai Namco and Project Aces have stated that more multiplayer details will arrive at a later date. That leaves several open questions. Players still do not know whether co-op integrates into the main campaign or exists as a separate mission set. The number of players supported per co-op session also remains unclear.
Until the developers provide clarification, the Steam listing stands as the strongest indicator of what Ace Combat 8 may offer.
Release Window and Platforms
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve targets a 2026 release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The game continues development under Project Aces, the studio responsible for the franchise’s modern entries.
For now, the signs point toward a more connected Ace Combat experience. If co-op and crossplay arrive as expected, Ace Combat 8 could bring squad based air combat back where many fans believe it belongs.
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