Ace Combat 8 Soars to Critical Acclaim with 88 Metacritic Average
Early reviews for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve have arrived, earning an 88 average on Metacritic for the PS5 version, placing it among the top 20 games of 2026. Critics praise its exhilarating combat, cinematic presentation, and engaging story. The game is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S as well.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve arrives on Xbox Series X|S with a standard edition priced at £64.99/$69.99 launching October 1st, while a Deluxe Edition becomes available three days earlier on September 28th. The PS5 version currently holds an 88 Metacritic average, ranking as the 20th highest-rated game of 2026 so far.
Critics have consistently scored the game at 8/10 or above, with only a single 7/10 appearing among early reviews. Notably, dedicated Xbox reviews remain scarce at this stage, though reviewers expect the experience to translate similarly across platforms. The game launches during a crowded week for Xbox releases, including The Witcher 3: Remastered and Minecraft Dungeons 2.
This strong critical reception could significantly influence Xbox owners' purchasing decisions during a busy release week, potentially drawing attention away from competing titles. The game's high scores may also reinforce the series' reputation as a premier arcade flight franchise, possibly attracting newcomers who previously avoided the genre. However, the lack of Xbox-specific reviews could create hesitation among Series X|S players, who may wait for platform-specific impressions before committing to the premium price point.