Project Aces has extended an apology to Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Steam players concerning the limited launch choices for the Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War modern port, which was included as a pre-order bonus. The development team is now in talks with their platform partners and exploring alternative launch methods.
Currently, The Belkan War can only be accessed on Steam by installing and launching Ace Combat 8. Given the main game’s substantial file size (requiring at least 150GB of storage), some gamers expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of a standalone installation option for Ace Combat Zero. Meanwhile, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S users don’t face this problem, as The Belkan War is delivered as a DLC executable that can be downloaded and launched independently on consoles. This platform disparity further aggravated player discontent.
The developers have apologized for the confusion and frustration resulting from their failure to clarify how the port operates beforehand. In response to community feedback, they are “presently assessing potential solutions, including discussions with platform partners.” It’s important to note, however, that there’s no assurance that modifications will be implemented for the Steam version of The Belkan War.
Even if the launch issue is addressed, it’s worth mentioning that this doesn’t imply Ace Combat Zero will become available as a separate purchase on Steam or consoles. As clarified by the developers during the concluding Ace Combat 8 Information Bureau livestream, the limitation of The Belkan War to a pre-order bonus stems from expired licenses with aircraft manufacturers. Although the game is two decades old, Project Aces secured permission to distribute it as a pre-order incentive under the existing contracts. However, these agreements did not authorize the game to be sold as a standalone product later, explaining its absence from digital and physical storefronts.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is now accessible on Windows (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X❘S.