Ace Combat 8 Prequel Series Streams First on IGN
Get ready for some high-octane action, because the flight simulation combat series has landed a massive new entry, and it’s bringing the drama right to the forefront. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is set to hit PCs and consoles next month, promising intense aerial warfare that will test the limits of flight and strategy.
But the excitement doesn’t stop there. Before players dive into the cockpit of the new aircraft, a cinematic prequel is set to give us a look behind the scenes. IGN can exclusively reveal that a live-action miniseries titled Hour Zero, starring Lost’s Josh Holloway and Superman Returns’ Brandon Routh, will be streaming later this month.
This four-part series will drop four 6 to 11-minute installments ahead of the game’s October 2 launch, offering a glimpse into the tumultuous opening days of the invasion of the Republic of Sotoa.
The trailer for Hour Zero casts Holloway, Routh, and Tamlyn Tomita as three strangers who must survive the chaos of the conflict. Holloway plays a pilot with nowhere to land, Routh is the doctor who saved his enemy, and Tomita is a news anchor silenced for telling the truth. These stories are designed to set the stage for the epic narrative players will experience in Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve.
Holloway himself has shared how acting in the series reignited his passion for gaming. He reflects on how immersing himself in the action of Hour Zero provided a visceral connection to the Ace Combat universe, giving him a sense of memory while playing the game.
“When I was younger, I was a gamer,” Holloway shared. “I went away from gaming for many, many years, and this has gotten me addicted. It’s so real and so visceral. Layering a story onto this game really raises the stakes. After playing the game, I could feel myself in that cockpit because I got to do it in the studio. So now I have that sense memory while I’m playing the game, which is a blast.”
He further mused that participating in the action scenes fulfilled a long-held fantasy. Holloway recalls dreaming of being a fighter pilot, a dream sparked by classic media. “My first fantasy about being a fighter pilot was Baa Baa Black Sheep. That just tore my imagination up. I realized that being a fighter pilot is right up there with being a cowboy,” he noted.
While he is less interested in performance capture for future games, Holloway believes there is huge potential to bring these simulated worlds to the big screen. He sees room in the Ace Combat universe to possibly adapt it into a feature film, noting that games like Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars prove that digital worlds can carry real stories.
For those preparing for the launch on October 2, Holloway offers one essential tip for conquering the skies. “Be aggressive,” he advises. “If I start to chill out, I got somebody locked on my tail already. So you’ve got to be like, ‘Oh my God, I’m going for it,’ and just hammer down.”
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will be available now for preorder on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Deluxe Edition holders can access early access on September 29, with the full launch for all players on October 2.
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