Ace Combat: Review with altitude - is Bandai Namco preparing the next mission?

A new video for the 30th anniversary of the Ace Combat series summarizes the history of the popular aerial combat series and possibly already provides clues for Ace Combat 8.

Without much notice, Bandai Namco has released a look back at the most important moments in the history of Ace Combat. From the debut to the technically elaborate Ace Combat 7, the video shows iconic game scenes. It's not so much about individual games - rather, it shows the development of a genre that has reinvented itself time and again between action, simulation and story drama.

Three decades of flying high and going supersonic

The 30th anniversary video takes you through precisely these stages of Ace Combat's development. The selection of scenes is quickly edited, deliberately emotionally staged and covers all the important titles - including Skies Unknown, which most recently took the series to a new technical level and also introduced VR elements.

Hints at Ace Combat 8?

It is striking that the video does not simply look back, but points to the future several times. Phrases such as "new heights", "the journey continues" or the reference to three decades of aerial combat do not sound like an upcoming announcement by chance. In fact, there are already indications from developer circles that Ace Combat 8 is in active development. This has not yet been officially confirmed, but it's possible that could change soon.

So if you want to get in the mood or are in the mood for aerial combat with afterburners again after years, this review will give you a compact flight through the history of the series - and perhaps a first taste of what's coming soon.