Well aware of the hype Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has been generating among series fans since its reveal at The Game Awards 2025, Bandai Namco Games has a surprise in store that they're bound to appreciate. In an official press release, the publisher has announced the grand return of the "Annihilation" mode. For the uninitiated, a quick reminder: in this mode, the goal isn't to take out a single target, but to destroy every enemy and every piece of infrastructure (on land and at sea) that strays into your sights.
"Don't think, just do."
To spice things up, the mission has to be completed within a time limit, and you'll need to lean on supply lines to top up your ammunition. Worth noting: the developers at Bandai Namco Aces have fleshed out the "Annihilation" mode with, for instance, the ability to trigger chain reactions by shooting an enemy base's fuel tank. The same goes for enemy aircraft, which, once shot down, can inflict heavy damage on the ground. You get the idea: this new version of the "Annihilation" mode should offer far greater freedom of action, letting pilots cook up all sorts of strategies.
As a reminder, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will come with an online mode that couldn't be more ambitious. Dubbed Ace Combat Online, it will let you take part in co-op missions and earn a whole pile of rewards through the Ace Pass system. In case you'd forgotten, the game launches on 2 October on Xbox Series, PS5 and PC.
