Mini "Top Gun": Ace Combat 8 Gets Prequel Film with Josh Holloway and Brandon Routh

Bandai Namco took a thorough approach to promoting the new installment of the series after a seven-year hiatus.

Bandai Namco Entertainment unveiled HOUR ZERO — a live-action short film that serves as a prequel to Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve. The story is divided into four parts: the first is already available with Russian subtitles on YouTube, and the final episode will be released before the game's launch.

HOUR ZERO tells the story of three strangers experiencing the first days of the Republic of Sotoa's invasion of the Central Usean Federation. They are played by Josh Holloway ("Lost", "Yellowstone"), Brandon Routh ("Superman Returns"), and Tamlyn Tomita ("Cobra Kai"). Holloway plays a pilot with nowhere to land, Routh a doctor who saved his enemy's life, and Tomita a TV anchor forced to keep quiet.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will be the first main installment in the series in seven years. The events will unfold in Strangereal, the series' fictional world, where the player will take on the role of an ace pilot fighting for the survival of their homeland.

Deluxe Edition owners will get early access on September 29. The full release will take place on October 2 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.