Hero image: ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE screenshot. Image: Bandai Namco Entertainment
The team behind Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has posted two apologies on Steam in two days — one to flight stick players, and one to pre-order customers over how Ace Combat Zero is delivered.
The first came on 30 September in a Flight Stick Support Update. It says that “some of the configuration options available for certain devices in ACE COMBAT 7 are not available in ACE COMBAT 8.”
The team says it is “exploring solutions and improvements to bring the flight stick experience closer to ACE COMBAT 7”, but warns that “these changes may take time.” No date was given.
The second, About ACE COMBAT ZERO: THE BELKAN WAR, followed on 1 October. Ace Combat Zero is the game’s pre-order bonus, and on Steam it doesn’t arrive as its own application.
The post gives the reason in one line: “Due to licensing restrictions and platform-related considerations, it cannot currently be released on Steam as a standalone application. As a result, we have chosen to make ACE COMBAT ZERO available through ACE COMBAT™ 8: WINGS OF THEVE.”
It goes on to apologise “for any confusion or frustration caused by our failure to clearly communicate this distribution method in advance.”
A fix is not promised. The team says it is “currently evaluating possible options, including discussions with our platform partners”, but adds: “At this time, we cannot guarantee that any changes will be made.”
We argued on 27 September that Ace Combat Zero deserves better than being a pre-order bonus. Neither post changes what buyers get today, and neither gives a date for any change.
Ace Combat 8 launched on Steam on 1 October, at A$109.95 on the Australian store, or A$139.95 for the Deluxe Edition, when we checked this afternoon.
Source: The ACE COMBAT Team on Steam – About ACE COMBAT ZERO: THE BELKAN WAR, The ACE COMBAT Team – Flight Stick Support Update, Steam – ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE