Confusion Over Pre-Order Bonus Affects Ace Combat 8 Launch
- Players experienced confusion over the pre-order bonus for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve.
- Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War is included but not available as a standalone game on Steam.
- The game’s Steam user rating has improved from Mixed to Mostly Positive following the developer’s response.
The early access launch of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve faced challenges due to misunderstandings surrounding its pre-order bonus. Customers who pre-ordered the flight action game were promised a copy of the 2006 title Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War; however, early players found it was not available as a standalone product, contrary to their expectations.
Players who purchased the Deluxe edition priced at £75 / $90 to gain three-day early access expressed dissatisfaction over this issue.
In response, the Ace Combat studio provided clarification regarding the absence of The Belkan War as a standalone title on Steam, a feature available on consoles. The studio explained, “Ace Combat Zero is offered as a pre-order bonus. Due to licensing restrictions and platform-related considerations, it cannot currently be released on Steam as a standalone application.”
Furthermore, Ace Combat Zero can only be accessed through the installation of Ace Combat 8, which also prevents it from having its own Steam cloud saves and achievements since it operates under a different game identity. The developer acknowledged player frustrations and stated, “We have carefully reviewed player feedback regarding this issue and understand the concerns that have been raised. We are currently evaluating possible options, including discussions with our platform partners.”
While the developer noted that no guarantees could be made regarding potential changes, they affirmed an active exploration of solutions to address player concerns.
Initially, the confusion led to a downturn in Ace Combat 8’s user review rating on Steam, but it has improved from a Mixed to a Mostly Positive rating as of now. The rating is expected to continue improving as the official launch date approaches on October 2nd, with players now more informed about the situation.
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
