SNACK in 3 lines
- Annihilation Battle returns as a time-limited campaign mission
- Free target order, mid-mission resupply, and chain destruction mechanics
- Launch: October 2, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC
Snackgirls react
Red: Picking the target order sounds like permission to fly straight at the most explosive part of the map. I want to see how long I can keep the destruction chain going.
AIKO: A falling aircraft becoming a secondary ground attack is an efficient interaction between two damage systems. The battlefield appears willing to calculate collateral damage for you.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is bringing back Annihilation Battle, a campaign mission format that gives pilots freedom to choose what they destroy within a time limit. The new story trailer places that flexibility at the center, including the decision of when to break away and replenish weapons. The trailer can be watched below.
A battlefield shaped by your attack order
The mission shown spans a solar power plant, oil tank, air base, and ammunition dump. Players can approach those targets in their preferred order and cross the return line when they need to resupply. Explosive structures can set off chain destruction, while falling aircraft may damage nearby facilities and turn a successful takedown into another strike on the ground.
Shadow 22 faces the Wings of Theve
The story footage pits Shadow 22, leader of the Sotoan Air Force Shadows Unit, against Joker Flight and its leader, the Wings of Theve. It also introduces Megafloat Fatsia, a six-kilometer artificial-island military facility with a 2,000-meter runway, and Tonitrus Spear, a low-orbit kinetic attack satellite.
Taking flight in October
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve launches October 2, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam. Annihilation Battle is presented as part of the campaign, with its flexible attack order offering a closer look at how individual missions can unfold.
Sources and date: 2026-09-15 KST