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In ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE, you can earn aircraft skins through the free or Premium Ace Pass by gaining mission XP, and some cosmetics come with an edition purchase. The Deluxe Edition’s F-4E “MOBIUS SQUADRON” and F/A-18C “TEAM ZVEZDA” skins can be used in Campaign Mode only after you complete every campaign mission. Exact pass levels for individual Season One skins are not specified in Bandai Namco’s published reward details, so check the current in-game track for an item’s level and availability.
How do you unlock aircraft skins?
There are four routes: progress through an Ace Pass, claim edition bonuses, or customize aircraft as you advance in online play. Which route applies depends on the skin; there is no single level or rank requirement that covers every aircraft cosmetic.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE DELUXE EDITION - PS5 | $89.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve - PS5 | $99.58 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration - PS5 | $44.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Broken Pieces PS5 | $34.64 | Buy on Amazon |
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Thrustmaster T.FLIGHT HOTAS NEO ACE COMBAT 8 WINGS OF THEVE Edition – Officially Licensed... | $149.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Route | How it works | Mode notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free Ace Pass | Earn XP by completing ACE COMBAT ONLINE missions and progress through the seasonal track. The publisher lists 12 aircraft skins on Season One’s free track. | Check the in-game track for the particular item’s level. |
| Premium Ace Pass | The paid track adds rewards, including 13 additional aircraft skins in Season One. | Season One Premium redemption unlocks the ADFX-02 Morgan–PIXY and its special skin collection. |
| Deluxe Edition | Includes the F-4E “MOBIUS SQUADRON” and F/A-18C “TEAM ZVEZDA” skins. | Both can be used online; Campaign Mode use is unlocked after completing all campaign missions. |
| Online progression | Aircraft gain levels as they survive sorties, and online customization includes skin, emblem and weathering options. | The publisher does not specify a universal aircraft level or rank requirement for every skin. |
How does Ace Pass progression work?
Both free and Premium seasonal tracks advance with XP earned by completing missions. Some free levels do not award an item. Season One lasts two months, and its rewards change with the season. Bandai Namco’s October 1, 2026 announcement advised redeeming the Season One Premium pass before the season ends in November 2026 to obtain its ADFX-02 Morgan–PIXY reward. Since the schedule and reward track are seasonal, verify what is currently available in-game.
The Premium Ace Pass Plus includes an immediate 30-level advance for Season One. The publisher does not publish a text list assigning every skin to a particular pass level; use the live reward track to check the exact level before choosing a target.
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#1 Best Overall
- DELUXE EDITION INCLUDES: Base Game, 3 Day Early Access, Premium Ace Pass Plus Voucher [Unlock the Premium Ace Pass for the Currrent Season] (includes ADFX-02 Morgan -Pixy aircraft + Ace Pass Levels [Instant Unlock of 30 Premium Ace Pass Levels]), and Customizable Cosmetic Set (includes F-4E Mobius Squadro Skin, F/A-1BC Team Zvezda Skin, Scarlet Missile Smoke, and Tasha Costume Set.)
- ACE COMBAT 8 DELIVERS HIGH-OCTANE AERIAL ACTION! Step into the cockpit and take flight as an elite pilot across stunning skies. Enter intense dogfights, eliminate threats, and rise through gripping missions to earn your wings. The game is developed by PROJECT ACES, the acclaimed team behind the franchise.
- AERIAL WARFARE IN LIVING SKIES. Campaign Mode showcases stunning visuals with dynamic multi-layered cloudscapes that capture the majesty of living skies. Feel the rush of a fast-paced arcade-style gameplay and deploy powerful weapons to dominate the battlefield.
- A VISCERAL JOURNEY FROM COCKPIT TO GROUND. Beyond the chaos in the air, breathtaking first-person scenes reveal your pilot’s story through breathtaking cinematics. Experience the pressure of command, the weight of decisions, and the bonds forged in battle. Between missions, bond with your squad members, rise to meet adversity, and prove yourself as a true ace.
Which skins come with the Deluxe Edition?
The Deluxe Edition includes two named aircraft skins: the F-4E “MOBIUS SQUADRON” and F/A-18C “TEAM ZVEZDA.” They are usable in online play, but Campaign Mode use requires completing all campaign missions first. The edition also includes a Premium Ace Pass Plus voucher. Bandai Namco says the voucher can be saved for a future season rather than being tied to one specific season.
Other listed Deluxe cosmetics have different mode restrictions: the Tasha Costume Set and Scarlet missile smoke customization are online-only.
Rank #2
- ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE delivers high-octane aerial action! Step into the cockpit and take flight as an elite pilot across stunning skies. Enter intense dogfights, eliminate threats, and rise through gripping missions to earn your wings in this game developed by PROJECT ACES, the acclaimed team behind the franchise.
Can you get skins without the Premium Ace Pass?
Yes. The free Ace Pass includes aircraft skins, and online progression offers aircraft customization. Premium adds its own rewards, but it is not the only route to skins. Season One’s free track lists 12 aircraft skins; that count describes the free track for that season, not a guaranteed count for later seasons.
Do aircraft levels or ranks unlock every skin?
Not according to the publisher’s published descriptions. Aircraft gain levels as they survive online sorties, and the mode overview discusses rank and mission rewards, but it does not give a universal aircraft level or rank threshold for every skin. For a specific cosmetic, check its entry in the current in-game reward track or customization menu rather than assuming one general requirement.
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What happens when a season ends?
Ace Pass rewards change from season to season. Bandai Namco says Premium Ace Pass aircraft DLC is planned to become separately purchasable after its season, but that does not establish that every individual skin will be available, when it will appear, or its price. Confirm the item’s current availability before relying on a past season’s route.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- ✈️ OFFICIAL ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE LICENSE : Step into the cockpit of Strangereal's most legendary pilots with this official Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve licensed Thrustmaster HOTAS. Designed for PS5, PS4 and PC, plug in and take off immediately.
- 🎯 ABSOLUTE COMBAT PRECISION : Dominate the skies with 16-bit technology and 7 control axes including the Z-axis. With 16 action buttons, a rapid-fire trigger and a multidirectional hat switch, every missile launched and every maneuver executed is accurate to the millimeter.
- 💥 IMMERSIVE VIBRATION FEEDBACK : Feel every missile impact, every cannon burst and every turbulence directly in your palm, thanks to the vibration motor built into the grip.
- 🔧 DETACHABLE THROTTLE: Customize your joystick to suit your gaming style! Rest the joystick on your lap, or detach the throttle for use on a desk or table. Experience tailor-made comfort for back-to-back missions with no compromises.
- 🛫 DUAL RUDDER SYSTEM : Control your aircraft's rotation via the joystick's Z-axis or the tilting lever on the detachable throttle. Two options, total freedom to dominate every combat situation.
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