Live-Action Prequel Series Hour Zero for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Announced

Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe has announced Hour Zero, a four-part live-action prequel miniseries created to lead into the narrative of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve. Starring Josh Holloway (Lost, Yellowstone), Brandon Routh (Superman Returns), and Tamlyn Tomita (Cobra Kai), the episodic series will air from September 15, 2026, through the game’s global launch on October 2, 2026.

Designed as an entry point for both newcomers and returning fans, Hour Zero tells the reverse-chronological story of three strangers caught in the initial hours of the invasion of the Federation of Central Usea by the Republic of Sotoa. The narrative follows a strand pilot with nowhere to land (Holloway), a military physician who rescues an enemy soldier (Routh), and a broadcast journalist silenced for reporting the truth (Tomita) as their personal lives unravel prior to the outbreak of war.

The miniseries serves as a direct prologue to the Campaign Mode in Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, which tasks players with taking the flight stick as a top pilot leading a four-person squadron to reclaim the occupied nation of Central Usea. Developed by Bandai Namco Aces Inc. on Unreal Engine 5, the title marks the first main installment in the franchise in seven years.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam on October 2, 2026, with three-day Early Access starting September 29, 2026, for Deluxe Edition holders.