Controversy erupts around Ace Combat 8 on PC as bundled Belkan War re-release remains problematically attached to the new game, whereas it’s standalone on console
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve’s launch has been marred by a bundling controversy centered on the included Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War re-release. Pre-orders of the game’s Deluxe ($90) and Standard ($70) editions both include the 2006 PS2 classic, marking its long-awaited PC debut. However, Bandai Namco’s handling of the bonus has sparked significant backlash.
PC players were originally led to believe that Ace Combat Zero would be a standalone product available separately on Steam, consistent with how the re-release functions on console versions. Instead, Bandai Namco bundled Zero directly with Ace Combat 8 on PC, making it inseparable from the main game. The publisher’s fine print regarding the bonus changed before launch, contradicting earlier expectations.
This platform-specific discrepancy has generated substantial negative feedback on Steam, with nearly 1,000 negative reviews citing the bundling issue as a key complaint. Players expected the flexibility to manage the two titles separately, particularly those planning to play on Steam Deck. The controversy threatens to negatively impact the game’s Steam review average, with reviewer scores potentially falling into Mixed territory due to this and other performance-related complaints.
The situation highlights broader concerns about transparency in pre-order bonus communication and platform parity in game bundling practices. Ace Combat Zero’s inclusion was intended as an incentive for pre-ordering, but the execution has alienated portions of the PC community.