Bandai Namco Entertainment America has announced HOUR ZERO, a live-action prequel created to set the stage for ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE. The four-part short film stars Josh Holloway, Brandon Routh and Tamlyn Tomita and will explore the human cost of the conflict before players enter the cockpit in the upcoming flight combat game.
The first installment of HOUR ZERO will premiere on September 15, 2026, with the remaining episodes releasing ahead of ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE’s October 2 launch. Rather than simply serving as promotional material, the prequel introduces three characters caught in the opening days of the Republic of Sotoa’s invasion of the Federation of Central Usea. Their individual stories are told in reverse, gradually moving toward the moment the war begins.
HOUR ZERO Sets Up ACE COMBAT 8’s War Story
Josh Holloway plays a pilot who finds himself with nowhere to land, while Brandon Routh portrays a doctor who has saved the life of an enemy. Tamlyn Tomita takes on the role of a news anchor who is silenced after attempting to expose the truth.
The three characters begin as strangers, but their experiences are connected by the invasion that destroys the normal lives they once knew. By telling their stories in reverse, HOUR ZERO counts down toward the first hour of the war and provides additional context for the campaign players will experience in ACE COMBAT 8.
The film is also intended to introduce newcomers to the wider Ace Combat universe and its fictional setting, Strangereal. The game returns players to a world already familiar to longtime fans, but this time the Federation of Central Usea has been occupied and its military forces have been devastated.
In the main game, players assume the role of an ace pilot known as Wings of Theve. The name is tied to Theve, the FCU capital, turning the protagonist into a symbol of hope for citizens fighting to reclaim their homeland.
The player will also be joined by three new fighter pilots as the squadron attempts to repel the Republic of Sotoa’s attack. The conflict places identity and duty at the center of a campaign focused on survival, resistance and the fight to restore the FCU.
ACE COMBAT 8 Release Date and Early Access Details
Developed by Bandai Namco Aces Inc., ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE is the first mainline entry in the franchise in seven years. The game is being developed with Unreal Engine 5 alongside Bandai Namco Aces’ proprietary technology, with the studio targeting a highly cinematic and realistic aerial combat experience.
ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE launches worldwide on October 2, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam. Players who purchase the Deluxe Edition can begin playing through early access on September 29.
Pre-orders are currently available for both Standard and Deluxe Editions. Meanwhile, fans can watch the HOUR ZERO teaser ahead of its four-part release, with the first chapter arriving September 15 and the complete prequel concluding before the game launches.
