《空戰奇兵8：希孚之翼》（Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve）是由Bandai Namco Aces Inc.開發、Bandai Namco Entertainment發行的飛行射擊遊戲，於2026年在 PlayStation 5、Xbox Series X/S以及 PC平台推出。由長年負責系列核心製作的「PROJECT ACES」團隊操刀，延續《ACE COMBAT》系列一貫的精神，在追求擬真天空表現的同時，保留高度戲劇化與爽快感十足的空戰體驗，讓玩家再次化身為翱翔天際的王牌駕駛員。

在劇情設定上，故事時間設定於2029年7月。中央尤西亞聯邦（Federation of Central Usea, FCU）在短時間內遭到索托亞共和國（Republic of Sotoa）的閃電侵略，國土大半淪陷，軍事體系潰散，海軍幾近瓦解。玩家登場時並非英雄，而是一名在海上漂流、被老舊航空母艦「Endurance」救起的戰鬥機駕駛員。這艘航母早已遠離前線，甲板上擠滿難民，是殘存勢力的象徵之一，也承載著國家最後的希望。

在這艘船上，玩家被賦予一個名字──「希孚之翼（Wings of Theve）」。這是一個象徵希望的王牌稱號，與FCU首都Theve緊密相連。然而這個傳奇本身其實是被捏造出來的神話，是為了在絕望中維繫士氣而存在的謊言。如今，玩家必須背負這個名字，成為傳說本身，與三名全新同伴一同再次升空，迎向戰火，為奪回失落的祖國而戰。系列一貫的主題──戰爭的殘酷、英雄的孤獨與被賦予意義的「王牌」身分，在本作中以更沉重也更具人性張力的方式呈現。

操作與玩法方面，依然採取系列標誌性的「類街機飛行射擊」設計，在真實感與可操作性之間取得高度平衡。不需要具備專業模擬飛行的知識，也能享受在高速空戰中翻滾、俯衝、鎖定與擊墜敵機的流暢手感。戰役模式中，天空的表現達到系列新高峰，多層次、立體化的雲層系統不僅是視覺演出的一部分，也會實際影響視野、雷達與戰鬥節奏，讓空戰更具戰術變化。必須靈活運用飛彈、機砲與特殊武裝，在瞬息萬變的空域中連續擊墜敵人，體驗以一己之力扭轉戰局的快感。

除了空中戰鬥，在敘事演出上進一步強化「帶入感」。過場劇情大量採用第一人稱視角，以駕駛員的身分親歷戰爭中的抉擇與壓力，而非單純旁觀故事發展。部分橋段更加入全新的地面駕駛員體驗，從座艙之外感受戰場氛圍，與性格鮮明的同伴建立情感連結。這種從天空延伸到地面的敘事方式，使「成為王牌」不只是技術上的象徵，而是一段必須承受責任與犧牲的旅程。

在畫面與演出層面，充分發揮次世代主機與PC的效能，無論是雲海、海面、山岳等自然景觀，或是高密度的都市戰場，都呈現出極具臨場感的視覺震撼。戰鬥中的爆炸、飛彈尾焰與音效設計相互配合，搭配系列一貫高水準的配樂，營造出宛如戰爭電影般的劇場效果，讓每一場關鍵任務都充滿情緒張力。

在市場評價與期待方面，雖然遊戲尚未正式推出，但本作已被視為系列邁向新世代的重要作品。前作《空戰奇兵7》累積的口碑與銷量，讓玩家與媒體對本作寄予厚望，特別是對於劇情深度、畫面進化與沉浸式演出的期待更高。長年粉絲關注的是系列是否能再次塑造令人難忘的王牌傳說，而新玩家則被其爽快直觀的操作與戲劇化空戰所吸引。整體而言，《空戰奇兵8：希孚之翼》被視為不只是一次技術升級，而是一段關於信念、謊言與希望的空中史詩，有望再次確立《ACE COMBAT》在飛行射擊類型中的代表性地位。

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a flight combat shooter developed by Bandai Namco Aces Inc. and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, scheduled for release in 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Created by the long-standing core development team PROJECT ACES, the game carries forward the spirit that has defined the ACE COMBAT series for decades. While striving for ever more realistic depictions of the sky, it preserves the series’ signature blend of dramatic storytelling and exhilarating air combat, once again allowing players to step into the role of an ace pilot soaring freely through the heavens.

The story is set in July 2029. The Federation of Central Usea (FCU) is struck by a lightning invasion from the Republic of Sotoa, resulting in the rapid collapse of much of the nation. Vast territories fall under occupation, the military command structure disintegrates, and the navy is left on the brink of annihilation. The player does not begin as a celebrated hero, but as a fighter pilot adrift at sea, rescued by the aging aircraft carrier Endurance. Long since withdrawn from the front lines, the carrier’s decks are crowded with refugees. It stands as one of the last remnants of resistance, carrying the final hopes of a shattered country.

Aboard this ship, the player is given a name: “Wings of Theve.” It is a legendary ace title, a symbol of hope bound to Theve, the capital of the FCU. Yet this legend is, in truth, a fabricated myth—an invention meant to keep morale alive in the face of despair. Now the player must bear that name, become the legend itself, and take to the skies once more alongside three new comrades. Together, they face the fires of war in a struggle to reclaim their lost homeland. Familiar themes of the series— the cruelty of war, the loneliness of the hero, and the burden of the “ace” identity—are portrayed here with greater weight and deeper human drama.

In terms of gameplay and controls, the game retains the series’ iconic “arcade-style flight combat” design, achieving a careful balance between realism and accessibility. Players do not need expert-level flight simulation knowledge to enjoy the thrill of high-speed aerial maneuvers, dives, target locks, and successive enemy shootdowns. In campaign mode, the depiction of the sky reaches a new peak for the series. Multi-layered, volumetric cloud systems are not merely visual spectacle but actively influence visibility, radar performance, and combat tempo, adding tactical depth to every engagement. Players must skillfully combine missiles, cannons, and special weapons to dominate ever-changing airspace and experience the exhilaration of turning the tide of battle through sheer piloting prowess.

Beyond aerial combat, the game significantly enhances immersion through its narrative presentation. Cutscenes frequently adopt a first-person perspective, allowing players to experience the pressures and moral choices of war directly from the cockpit, rather than as distant observers. Certain sequences introduce new ground-based pilot experiences, letting players sense the battlefield atmosphere beyond the cockpit and build emotional bonds with vividly characterized allies. By extending the narrative from the skies to the ground, the concept of “becoming an ace” evolves beyond technical skill into a journey defined by responsibility, sacrifice, and resolve.

Visually and audiovisually, the game fully leverages the power of next-generation consoles and PC hardware. Whether depicting vast cloud seas, rolling oceans, rugged mountain ranges, or densely packed urban battlefields, the presentation delivers a striking sense of presence and scale. Explosions, missile trails, and sound design work in concert with the series’ consistently high-quality musical score to create a cinematic, war-movie-like experience, imbuing every critical mission with emotional intensity.

In terms of market reception and anticipation, although the game has yet to be released, it is already regarded as a pivotal entry marking the series’ transition into a new generation. The strong reputation and commercial success of Ace Combat 7 have fueled high expectations among both players and media, particularly regarding narrative depth, visual evolution, and immersive presentation. Longtime fans are eager to see whether the series can once again deliver a truly unforgettable ace legend, while newcomers are drawn in by its intuitive controls and dramatic air combat. Overall, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is seen not merely as a technical upgrade, but as an aerial epic about belief, deception, and hope—one that may reaffirm ACE COMBAT’s status as a defining title in the flight combat genre.