Early access players and pre-order customers for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve have flooded the title's Steam page with negative reviews. According to PC Gamer, the frustration stems from how publisher Bandai Namco packaged its pre-order incentive, the 2006 title Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.
Store Page Changes and Installation Bloat
Before launch, the Steam listing described Ace Combat Zero as a standalone application separate from Ace Combat 8. The language was later adjusted to classify the game as a DLC executable launched separately from the base game.
Because the classic title is attached as downloadable content rather than a distinct client, PC Gamer reports players must download the entire 140.24GB Ace Combat 8 installation to access the 3.2GB legacy title.
Feature Disparities Between PC and Console
The PC release of Ace Combat Zero lacks several options present in its console counterparts. Steam reviewers noted the absence of separate cloud saves and individual achievement lists for the legacy title.
These missing capabilities particularly impact handheld setups like the Steam Deck, where separate save management would be preferred for the classic entry.
Licensing Explanations and Storefront Workarounds
Bandai Namco developers indicated during a September 28 livestream that aircraft licensing terms permit giving Ace Combat Zero away only as a free extra rather than a paid standalone product.
However, player feedback points out that other Steam titles use unlisted store pages or access passes to deliver separate executables without selling them individually. Ace Combat 8 launched initial deluxe pre-order access ahead of its scheduled release on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
AI-generated editorial illustration; not a documentary photograph.
Source: Ace Combat 8 Steam reviewers are steaming mad about its pre-order bonus not being a standalone app
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