Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve - PC System Requirements (2026)

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, the next main game in Bandai Namco’s air combat series, is coming in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Steam.

Different from past games, Ace Combat 8 uses Unreal Engine 5. Expect great graphics, big sky areas, and updated lighting and cloud tech.

Right now, the people who made the game haven't shared the complete PC requirements. Still, we can guess what you'll need based on Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (the latest PC game) and what Unreal Engine 5 usually needs.

Why Official Requirements Are Still Pending

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is coming to PC, but the Steam page only has basic system info for now, like needing a 64-bit processor.

It looks like the complete specs for CPU, graphics card, RAM, and storage will be shared closer to the release.

Estimated PC Requirements (Unofficial)

These estimates are based on Ace Combat 7's listed needs and how Unreal Engine 5 usually works.

Estimated Minimum (Playable at Lower Settings)

Based on Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, you'll need at least an Intel i3-7100 and a GTX 750 Ti to run the game. For a smoother experience at 1080p/60 FPS, they suggest an i5-7500 with a GTX 1060.

Estimated Recommended (Target 1080p / 60 FPS)

This spec shows how much better Ace Combat 8 should look, thanks to Unreal Engine 5 and bigger outdoor areas. Other action games on PC look like this too.

Possible High-End Specs (1440p / 4K Play)

If you're aiming for better resolution or smoother Ultra settings, upgrading your computer will do the trick.

These parts leave space for updates, modifications, and better visuals as the game gets close to release.

Performance Tips (General for Ace Combat 8)

Since we're still waiting on the full details, here are some general ways to improve performance:

• Get the newest GPU drivers: Make sure you have the latest drivers installed.

• Use an NVMe SSD: This will help with faster loading.

• Adjust the render scale: Lowering this setting can give you more frames without making the game look too bad.

• Tweak shadow settings: Lowering the shadows can really help your game run faster, especially in Unreal Engine 5 games.

• DLSS/FSR: Look for DLSS or FSR support to improve performance at high resolutions.

Comparison with Ace Combat 7 (for Reference)

Here are the specs for Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown as listed on Steam:

Minimum:

• Intel Core i3-7100

• 4 GB RAM

• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750Ti (2 GB)
  Recommended:

• Intel Core i5-7500

• 8 GB RAM

• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (3 GB)
  Storage: ~50 GB

Ace Combat 8 will probably need more power because of the Unreal Engine 5 upgrades.

Still, these numbers give you a basic idea of what the Series 7 had trouble with, and what today's mid-range computers can easily manage.

When Will Official Requirements Be Announced?

Usually, the official system requirements are released closer to:

• Final beta/certification stage.

• Start marketing 3-6 months before launch.

Once Bandai Namco releases the official numbers, you can compare them with these estimates to plan your hardware needs exactly.

Final Summary

As of right now:

• We don't have the official PC system requirements for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve yet.

• The developers have said it'll be out on Steam for PC in 2026.

• For now, we can guess what you'll need by looking at the specs for Ace Combat 7 and what's common in computers today.

• A good, but not top-of-the-line, gaming PC should run the game at 1080p if you adjust the settings. If you have a really powerful PC, you can probably play at 1440p or even 4K.

I’ll post a more exact list of PC requirements when the official info comes out. Just let me know if you want me to!