Earlier today, Project ACES developers released an almost eight-minute long Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve developer diary.
This new video features Brand Director Kazutoki Kono and Producer Manabu Shimomoto as they explain the vision for the next entry in the legendary flight shooting series. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve arrives on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC via Steam this year.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve | Developer Diary
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve | New Perspective on Story
In Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, the team is moving the narrative forward by using a first person perspective for drama scenes. You will experience the plot through the eyes of the protagonist rather than watching from a third person view. A major part of this story takes place on the aircraft carrier Endurance. The pilots call this ship Mom because it is the safe place they return to after combat.
The narrative focuses on the bonds you build with your teammates. You will share moments of joy and sorrow while overcoming difficult missions. The story begins with a specific event that causes you to inherit the symbol of the war and the mantle of an ace pilot. Your teammates might start out skeptical of your abilities, but they will grow to trust you as you lead them. Whether you can turn your false wings into real ones depends entirely on your performance in the cockpit.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve | Technical Upgrades & Cloudly Engine
The jump in visual quality is massive. Aircraft models in this game use six times the polygon count found in Ace Combat 7. The developers used 3D scans and over a thousand photos of real hangars and briefing rooms to recreate a realistic atmosphere. They also used the Lumen lighting system to calculate light reflections just like the real world.
To make dogfights feel faster, Project ACES built a proprietary engine called Cloudly. This system fills the sky with dynamic clouds that you can fly through. These clouds provide a relative sense of speed and a feeling of floating that was not possible in earlier games.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve | New Weapons & Modes
The developer diary also gave a look at the Podarge, a large airborne transport plane. It looks similar to the Arsenal Bird from the previous game, but it is less aggressive. It serves a relational role by carrying large equipment that gets assembled at a destination.
For players who are new to the series or struggle with action games, the developers included a training mode and a tutorial. These features help you learn the rules and practice your flying skills. The team also confirmed that Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will feature the largest online mode in the history of the series. This game represents thirty years of evolution and aims to be the pinnacle of the franchise.
