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Ace Combat Zero Standalone Steam App Is Now Confirmed
Bandai Namco Entertainment and Bandai Namco Aces are changing how Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War works on PC, confirming that the pre-order bonus will eventually become a standalone Steam application after complaints surrounding its original integration with Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve.
At launch, PC players could only access Ace Combat Zero by launching Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, unlike PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, where the bonus appeared as a separate application. The arrangement attracted criticism because PC players effectively needed the much larger Ace Combat 8 installation available just to access the significantly smaller bonus game.
Bandai Namco initially said licensing restrictions and platform considerations prevented it from releasing Ace Combat Zero as a separate Steam application. It subsequently began exploring alternatives after player feedback, and has now confirmed that a standalone version is happening.
Ace Combat Zero Saves Should Carry Across Both Versions
Once the change goes live, eligible players will have two ways to access Ace Combat Zero. The existing version launched through Ace Combat 8 will remain available, while the new standalone application can instead be opened independently. Bandai Namco also expects save data to transfer between both through Steam Cloud, meaning players should not have to restart their campaign when moving over.
The standalone version is currently undergoing final quality assurance and compatibility testing, with a release date still to be announced. Crucially, this does not mean Ace Combat Zero is going on general sale through Steam. Bandai Namco says the new application is specifically for players who already received it as an Ace Combat 8 pre-order bonus. Anyone who missed that promotion will not gain a new way to purchase it through this change.
Ace Combat 8 Is Already a Series Record-Setter
The controversy has otherwise done little to slow the new game’s commercial start. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve surpassed one million copies worldwide within roughly its first week, reaching the milestone faster than any previous entry in the 30-year-old series.
That makes the Ace Combat Zero issue a relatively small blemish on an otherwise strong launch, but the reversal is still notable. Bandai Namco went from saying a standalone Steam application could not currently be offered to confirming one less than two weeks later.
For affected PC players, at least the eventual result is straightforward: they should soon be able to play Ace Combat Zero without keeping Ace Combat 8 installed alongside it.
