### Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve – Launch Controversy
**Release Information**
*Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve* is scheduled for an official release on October 1, 2023, yet players who bought the $90 “deluxe” edition can access the game now on Steam. Reviews are praising the game as “the best *Ace Combat* has ever experienced.” However, it currently maintains a “Mixed” review rating on Steam owing to issues related to pre-order bonuses and performance.
**Pre-Order Bonus Issues**
Pre-ordering *Wings of Theve* on any platform allows players to access *Ace Combat 0: The Belkan War*, a celebrated port from the PS2 generation. Initially, it was communicated that *The Belkan War* would be available as a standalone application on PC. Recent updates have, however, disclosed that it is instead being classified as downloadable content (DLC) that necessitates *Ace Combat 8* for access.
This alteration has led to frustration among players, especially those wishing to use the Steam Deck, as the complete game demands a substantial 150 GB of storage. Thus, players interested in *The Belkan War*, which needs only about 4 GB, find themselves required to download the bulkier game. Furthermore, since it is bundled as DLC, *The Belkan War* will not include its own Steam achievements or activity tracker, leaving achievement seekers disappointed.
**Community Reaction**
Players have voiced their dissatisfaction through Steam reviews. One review remarked, “I was astounded to discover that *ACE COMBAT ZERO* was actually a DLC executable reliant on *ACE COMBAT 8* rather than a true standalone app on Steam. This implies that to access the 4GB *ACE COMBAT ZERO* game, you must download and install *ACE COMBAT 8* which is 140GB??”
Another user valued the chance to engage with the classic title but expressed discontent regarding its integration on Steam.
**Performance Concerns**
In addition to the pre-order bonus complications, *Ace Combat 8* has faced performance challenges. Players have reported issues such as memory leaks, regular crashes, and compatibility problems with third-party flight sticks, further adding to the game’s mixed reviews.
**Conclusion**
While *Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve* continues to draw players with its praised gameplay, the management of its pre-order bonuses and technical difficulties has sparked discord within the community. As players deal with these hurdles, the game is under scrutiny that may influence its reception in the forthcoming days.
