{
  "schemaVersion": "1.3",
  "id": "ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve",
  "slug": "ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve",
  "product": "Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve",
  "title": "Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve",
  "job": "Is the date real, do they need to spend, what can they skip.",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-09-13",
  "timezoneNote": "Timed unlocks: 1 Oct 3pm PT / 6pm ET; 2 Oct 12am CEST / 7am JST (PS Blog). Platform rows: Steam 2026-10-01; PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S 2026-10-02. Deluxe early access 28 Sep 3pm PDT is not a separate platform row.",
  "lifecycle": {
    "postedAt": "2026-09-04",
    "announcedPlatformReleases": [
      {
        "platform": "PlayStation 5",
        "date": "2026-10-02",
        "sourceIds": [
          "playstation-blog",
          "acecombat",
          "bandai-namco"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "Xbox Series X|S",
        "date": "2026-10-02",
        "sourceIds": [
          "bandai-namco",
          "acecombat"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "Steam",
        "date": "2026-10-01",
        "sourceIds": [
          "steam",
          "acecombat"
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "disclosure": {
    "text": "As an Amazon Associate, NeedFlag earns from qualifying purchases."
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "playstation-blog",
      "label": "PlayStation Blog — Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve launches globally October 2 on PS5",
      "url": "https://blog.playstation.com/2026/06/02/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve-launches-globally-october-2-on-ps5/"
    },
    {
      "id": "acecombat",
      "label": "Ace Combat — Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve",
      "url": "https://www.acecombat.com/"
    },
    {
      "id": "bandai-namco",
      "label": "Bandai Namco — Ace Combat 8",
      "url": "https://www.bandainamcoent.com/games/ace-combat-8"
    },
    {
      "id": "steam",
      "label": "Steam — Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve",
      "url": "https://store.steampowered.com/app/2288340/"
    }
  ],
  "official": [
    {
      "id": "platforms",
      "label": "Launch platforms",
      "value": "PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam; no Nintendo, no Epic",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-blog",
        "acecombat",
        "bandai-namco",
        "steam"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "publisher",
      "label": "Studio / publisher",
      "value": "Bandai Namco Aces / Bandai Namco",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-blog",
        "bandai-namco",
        "acecombat"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "price",
      "label": "Standard price",
      "value": "$69.99",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "USD.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-blog",
        "acecombat",
        "steam"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "deluxe-price",
      "label": "Deluxe price",
      "value": "$89.99",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "USD. Deluxe early access begins 28 Sep 2026 at 3:00 PM PDT (PS Blog). Not listed as a separate announcedPlatformReleases row.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-blog",
        "acecombat"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "preorder-bonus",
      "label": "Pre-order bonus",
      "value": "Ace Combat Zero PS5 port + F-14A Tomcat",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-blog",
        "acecombat",
        "bandai-namco"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "esrb-category",
      "label": "ESRB rating",
      "value": "T",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "steam",
        "bandai-namco"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "esrb-descriptors",
      "label": "ESRB descriptors",
      "value": "Violence, Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Language",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "Interactive elements also listed: Users Interact, In-Game Purchases.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "steam",
        "bandai-namco"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "media": {
    "trailer": {
      "label": "Official trailer",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "kind": "youtube",
      "youtubeId": "c2bgoQhlzqE",
      "pageUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2bgoQhlzqE",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-blog",
        "steam"
      ]
    },
    "still": {
      "label": "Official still",
      "src": "/media/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve/official-still.jpg",
      "credit": "Steam/Bandai Namco",
      "pageUrl": "https://store.steampowered.com/app/2288340/",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "steam"
      ]
    }
  },
  "decisions": [
    {
      "id": "buy-now-set",
      "item": "Buy-now set",
      "verdict": "empty",
      "rationale": "No separate buy-now catalog. Yes lines are listed below. No paid Amazon links.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "game-ps5-standard",
      "item": "PS5 Standard ($69.99)",
      "verdict": "yes",
      "rationale": "Standard is the Need to own at $69.99. Split platform dates — Steam 1 Oct; PS5/Xbox 2 Oct 2026.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-blog",
        "acecombat",
        "steam"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": true,
        "href": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZ4Z6QWM?tag=needflag-20",
        "note": "Amazon Associates."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "game-xbox-series-standard",
      "item": "Xbox Standard ($69.99)",
      "verdict": "yes",
      "rationale": "Standard is the Need to own at $69.99. Split platform dates — Steam 1 Oct; PS5/Xbox 2 Oct 2026.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "bandai-namco",
        "acecombat"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": true,
        "href": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZ4Q3BGP?tag=needflag-20",
        "note": "Amazon Associates."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "deluxe",
      "item": "Deluxe ($89.99)",
      "verdict": "hold",
      "rationale": "Deluxe price is listed at $89.99. Early access starts 28 Sep 3pm PDT. Extras are not required to play.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-blog",
        "acecombat"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    }
  ],
  "openHoles": [
    {
      "id": "deluxe-full-contents",
      "question": "Full Deluxe contents beyond early access?",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "Deluxe is $89.99 with early access from 28 Sep 3pm PDT. Full Deluxe contents beyond early access and skins are not confirmed here yet.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "playstation-blog",
        "acecombat"
      ]
    }
  ]
}