Ace Combat 8: Wings Of Theve is due to launch officially on October 1, although buyers of the $90 Deluxe Edition can already play it on Steam. Early impressions have praised the flight model, with some reviews calling it the strongest-feeling entry in the series. Even so, the PC release currently carries a Mixed rating after confusion over its pre-order bonus.
Why the Belkan War bonus is causing frustration
Anyone who pre-orders Wings Of Theve on any platform receives Ace Combat 0: The Belkan War. The PS2-era title is widely regarded as one of the standout games in the franchise, making it a significant incentive for longtime fans.
The issue is how the bonus was presented on PC. Console players receive The Belkan War as a separate game. An earlier version of the Steam store listing also described it as a standalone application, separate from Ace Combat 8: Wings Of Theve. A Eurogamer report detailed the resulting community reaction.
Steam users expected a separate download
Players are now discovering that the PC version is delivered as downloadable content instead. It cannot be launched independently and requires the main game to be installed first.
That arrangement is particularly inconvenient for Steam Deck owners who wanted to keep the older campaign available for portable play without installing the entire new release. The full Ace Combat 8 installation is listed at roughly 150GB, while The Belkan War itself is around 4GB.
The packaging also disappoints achievement hunters. Because the bonus is linked to Ace Combat 8, it does not have a separate Steam achievement list or its own activity tracker. The store page has since been revised to identify The Belkan War as DLC, but the change has not eased the criticism.
Performance complaints add to the negative reviews
Some players are unhappy with the implementation of the bonus, while others have reported problems with the main game. Steam reviews cite memory leaks, regular crashes and a lack of compatibility with third-party flight sticks.
The situation highlights how digital packaging can affect the reception of a game even when its core mechanics are being well received. Players considering a dedicated racing or flight-style simulator setup may also want to check peripheral support carefully before committing to a PC version.
For anyone comparing home gaming hardware, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide covers the practical questions around space, controls and platform choice. You can also browse the wider arcade news and gaming coverage for more industry updates.
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