Ace Combat 8 Sales Surge Meets New PS5 Flight Stick Launch

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Store links: Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve on Steam

Ace Combat 8 is already leading on Steam before the standard launch

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has reached number one on Steam's US Top Sellers chart before its full October 2 release, according to DualShockers, which reported that the game climbed 55 places as Deluxe Edition early access began on September 28. That is the strongest concrete signal so far that Bandai Namco's long-running flight combat game has real launch-week momentum in the United States, even if it should be read carefully.

The chart cited by DualShockers is Steam's US Top Sellers chart, so this is not the same as a complete US software sales ranking across PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and retail. The outlet describes the ranking as preorder and early access revenue from a game most standard-edition buyers had not yet played. In other words, the current Ace Combat 8 sales story is a revenue and demand signal, not a final unit-sales verdict.

That distinction matters because the timing lines up almost perfectly with a separate push around dedicated hardware. Push Square reports that two officially licensed flight sticks, one from HORI and one from Thrustmaster, are launching on October 2 alongside the game. For a series built around arcade dogfighting rather than full simulation, seeing the game jump on Steam while PS5-targeted flight hardware arrives on day one creates a rare moment for flight combat fans: the software audience looks primed, and the accessory market is meeting it at the start line rather than months later.

The US sales breakout is strong, but narrower than the headline suggests

DualShockers' report frames Ace Combat 8 as beating major competition on Steam's US Top Sellers chart, noting that WARDOGS, described by the outlet as a three-million-copy seller and one of the year's most discussed launches, sat second after Ace Combat 8's jump. Counter-Strike 2, which DualShockers says had been charting for 737 consecutive weeks, was third.

For readers searching for whether Ace Combat 8 is the best selling game US players are buying right now, the safest answer is more specific: it was reported as number one on Steam's US Top Sellers chart before full release. Steam's top sellers reflect spending on the platform, and Deluxe Edition early access can amplify revenue because the higher-priced edition unlocks play earlier. On PlayStation's US store page, Bandai Namco lists the Standard Edition at $69.99 and the Deluxe Edition at $89.99, with the Deluxe Edition including 3-day early access. That pricing structure gives early adopters a reason to spend before October 2, which can help explain why revenue momentum appeared before the general release window.

The sales signal also sits on top of a long wait. DualShockers points out that Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown launched in 2019 and says the previous game sold over seven million copies in the years since. A seven-year gap can act like a long formation lap: the audience has had time to grow, expectations have had time to harden, and a numbered sequel from Project Aces can convert patience into early spending if the reviews and platform messaging land cleanly.

Critical reception is giving early buyers cover, but it is not the same as proof of staying power

The reported sales momentum is arriving alongside unusually strong review scores for the series. PlayStation LifeStyle reported that the PS5 version of Ace Combat 8 held an 87/100 Metacritic score based on more than 50 critic reviews, with Xbox and PC versions listed at 90 and 86 respectively, though with fewer reviews on those platforms. Push Square also cited an 87 on Metacritic and said it awarded the game 8/10. DualShockers reported an 88 on OpenCritic and called it the second-highest-rated entry in franchise history, behind Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies at 89.

Those numbers help explain why preorders and early access could be converting quickly. The available source material says critics praised the campaign, dogfighting mechanics, cinematic first-person sequences, and music. PlayStation LifeStyle quotes Bandai Namco's official overview promising intense dogfights, stunning skies, and dynamic multi-layered cloudscapes. GamingBolt's preview feature adds technical context, saying Wings of Theve is being developed with Unreal Engine 5 alongside Project Aces' proprietary cloud rendering technology, with a focus on larger and more detailed aerial spaces.

That still leaves open questions. Time.news notes that some reviews critiqued the story and multiplayer elements. The PlayStation Store listing describes ACE COMBAT ONLINE as the largest online mode in the series, with online lobbies, an air base space for custom avatars, co-op, cross-platform play, and support for up to eight online players with PS Plus on PS5. A strong review average can sell the campaign fantasy immediately, but multiplayer health is a longer test. Flight combat games can feel spectacular in campaign and still need clean matchmaking, stable netcode, balanced aircraft roles, and sensible progression to keep players flying after launch week.

The PS5 flight stick launch is unusually well timed

The hardware timing is the sharpest part of the story. Push Square reports that HORI's Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Flight Stick and Thrustmaster's T.FLIGHT HOTAS NEO Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Edition both release on October 2, the same day as the game's full launch. Both are described as compatible with PS5, PS4, and PC, with plug-and-play functionality and licensing from Sony and Bandai Namco.

The price gap is modest but meaningful. Push Square lists HORI's model at $129.99 in the US and Thrustmaster's at $149.99. Time.news reports the same $129.99 to $149.99 range and says both devices are intended to enhance Ace Combat 8's aerial combat experience through specialized controls, with Thrustmaster leaning on force feedback and rumble.

The feature split is where flight combat fans should slow down. Push Square says HORI's stick includes a dedicated High-G Mode button for High-G Turns, while Thrustmaster's version includes force feedback and rumble for explosions and missile launches. Time.news adds that HORI's model has Hall effect sensors, independent throttle and brake levers, an ambidextrous layout, and customizable LED lighting through a Windows 11 app. The same report says Thrustmaster's option lacks a High-G button and that both controllers support twin-stick mode when paired, while HORI's package includes a single unit.

No source material provided includes hands-on testing of either stick. Push Square explicitly says it had not tested either device and could not answer which one to buy. That is important. In flight and racing hardware, the spec sheet is only the opening sector. Dead zone behavior, resistance curve, button placement under pressure, vibration tuning, and how the game maps throttle and yaw can decide whether a controller feels precise or theatrical. The confirmed facts are compatibility, pricing, licensing, and listed features. The actual handling advantage remains unproven until independent testing arrives.

Ace Combat's arcade handling makes the hardware question different from a sim setup

Ace Combat 8 is being sold as high-octane aerial action, not a civilian flight training platform. Bandai Namco's PlayStation listing says the game delivers fast-paced arcade-style gameplay, powerful weapons, intense dogfights, and campaign missions across dynamic multi-layered cloudscapes. GamingBolt similarly frames the series as focused on the fantasy of becoming an ace pilot rather than learning every procedural detail of realistic aviation.

That changes the value calculation for an Ace Combat 8 PS5 flight stick. In a hardcore simulator, a HOTAS setup can be about matching real cockpit workflow. In Ace Combat, the priority is different: fast target acquisition, repeatable missile and weapon inputs, comfortable camera or yaw control, and the ability to execute dramatic turns without fighting the controller layout. HORI's dedicated High-G input appears aimed directly at that arcade combat rhythm. Thrustmaster's rumble and force feedback pitch is about sensation, giving explosions and missile launches more physical presence.

For players used to a DualSense, Sony's own store page confirms the PS5 version supports vibration function and trigger effect on the DualSense wireless controller. It is also listed as PS5 Pro Enhanced. That means the standard controller is not being ignored by the platform listing. A flight stick is therefore an optional commitment, not a requirement confirmed by any source. The practical question is whether you want a cockpit-style interface enough to spend $129.99 or $149.99 on top of a $69.99 standard game, or $89.99 if you chose the Deluxe Edition.

Platform details and purchases to check before buying hardware

The PlayStation Store lists Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve for PS5 at $69.99 for the Standard Edition and $89.99 for the Deluxe Edition. It also states that PS Plus is required for online play, online play is optional, the game supports one player offline, and online modes support up to eight players with PS Plus. Preorder bonuses on the store page include the playable F-14A and Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War in a PS5 version, with Bandai Namco noting that release date, content, and specifications are subject to change without notice.

The same listing shows optional in-game purchases and add-ons for ACE COINS, including packs priced at $49.99 for 6000 ACE COINS and $29.99 for 3500 ACE COINS. That does not tell us how aggressive the in-game economy will feel, and the source material does not provide enough detail to judge it. It is still a relevant buying detail for anyone considering the full cost of entry, especially if they are also looking at a day-one flight stick.

On hardware compatibility, Push Square and Time.news both report PS5, PS4, and PC support for the HORI and Thrustmaster sticks. The sources do not confirm Xbox compatibility for these specific accessories. PlayStation LifeStyle reports review scores for Xbox and PC versions of the game, so the game itself is not being discussed only as a PS5 release in the broader coverage, but the sourced flight stick launch is clearly PlayStation and PC oriented.

If you play primarily on PS5 and want the most direct officially licensed route, both sticks appear to fit that lane. If you play on PC, the Windows support noted in the reports makes them relevant there too, though PC players should still check store pages and driver requirements before buying. If you play on Xbox, the provided sources do not establish that these sticks will work for you.

A strong launch window, with one smart reason to wait

Ace Combat 8's launch window has three things lining up at once: a reported number-one position on Steam's US Top Sellers chart, strong critic averages across major aggregators, and two officially licensed flight sticks arriving with the full release. For a flight combat game, that is a cleaner runway than the genre usually gets. The audience signal is there, the reviews are supportive, and the hardware ecosystem is present immediately.

The case for buying early is strongest if you already know Ace Combat's blend of arcade handling and cinematic mission design works for you. The PlayStation Store confirms the core PS5 package, the Deluxe Edition early access structure, DualSense support, online requirements, and preorder bonuses. Push Square and Time.news confirm the two main PS5 flight stick options, their prices, and the headline features separating HORI from Thrustmaster.

The case for waiting is also straightforward. The Ace Combat 8 sales figure being discussed is a Steam US revenue-chart signal, not a complete market report. The flight sticks have listed features, but the provided coverage does not include independent performance testing. If your priority is precision, durability, force feedback quality, desk fit, or long-session comfort, waiting for hands-on hardware analysis is the measured play.

For flight combat fans, the encouraging part is that Ace Combat 8 is not arriving in isolation. It is launching into visible demand and a hardware push designed around the game. Whether that becomes a durable multiplayer community and a worthwhile peripheral ecosystem will depend on the post-launch flight model, online stability, and how well HORI and Thrustmaster's sticks translate spectacle into control.