ACE COMBAT 8 Gets Live-Action Prequel

Sep 10, 2026

Bandai Namco has announced HOUR ZERO, a four-part live-action prequel series for ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE, featuring actors Josh Holloway, Brandon Routh, and Tamlyn Tomita.

The short series will lead into the events of ACE COMBAT 8 and is designed to introduce players to the game's world and story ahead of its release.

Three Survivors, One War

HOUR ZERO follows three strangers whose lives are changed by the opening days of the Republic of Sotoa's invasion of the Federation of Central Usea.

Josh Holloway, known for Lost and Yellowstone, plays a pilot who has nowhere to land. Brandon Routh, known for Superman Returns, plays a doctor who saves an enemy soldier, while Tamlyn Tomita (Cobra Kai) takes on the role of a news anchor who is silenced after attempting to tell the truth.

The story is told in reverse, gradually showing how the three characters' ordinary lives were shattered as the war began. Their stories will lead into the events players will experience during ACE COMBAT 8's Campaign Mode.

The series will consist of four episodes, with the first episode releasing on September 15, 2026. The final installment will arrive before the game's launch on October 2.

A New War in Strangereal

ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE takes players back to the series' fictional world of Strangereal, which is now facing a major conflict.

The Federation of Central Usea has been occupied by the Republic of Sotoa, leaving its military forces shattered. Players take on the role of an ace pilot known as Wings of Theve, whose name is tied to Theve, the capital of the FCU.

Alongside three new fighter pilots, players will fight to push back Sotoa's invasion and reclaim their homeland.

Bandai Namco Aces Inc. is developing the game using Unreal Engine 5 alongside its own technology, aiming to deliver a more detailed and cinematic aerial combat experience.