{"rewrite":{"id":"r_12df388a9a38a2b40a29f886","clusterId":"c_422c18904aa11559c9cbacb8","slug":"ace-combat-zero-steam-port-to-get-standalone-app-for-ace-combat-8-pre-order-bonus","model":"deepseek-v4-1-flash","headline":"Ace Combat Zero Steam Port to Get Standalone App for Ace Combat 8 Pre-Order Bonus","summary":"Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on October 13 that the Steam version of Ace Combat Zero, offered as a pre-order bonus for Ace Combat 8: WINGS OF THEVE, is expected to be distributed as a standalone application. The port was previously playable only by launching Ace Combat 8 and selecting it from the start options. Both formats will coexist once the standalone version ships, and save data will be shared between them through Steam Cloud. The company said final quality and operation checks are underway. Bandai Namco stressed that the change applies only to players who already have the pre-order bonus and does not make Ace Combat Zero newly obtainable for anyone else. The issue drew complaints because Ace Combat 8 is roughly 140GB and the bonus could not be installed on its own.","whyItMatters":"A pre-order bonus that could only be reached through a 140GB download is unusual enough to generate a public concession, and Bandai Namco is retaining the bonus-only restriction even as it loosens how the port is delivered.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eThe port dates to the lead-up to Ace Combat 8\u0026#39;s release, when Bandai Namco explained that fighter jet licensing arrangements and platform-side specifications prevented a separate Steam listing, and the official X account warned players to pre-order before early access began. On October 1 the company apologized for insufficient advance guidance about the distribution method. A follow-up on October 2 reported that talks with platform partners had produced a prospect of changing to standalone distribution.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAce Combat 8 launched on October 1 or October 2 depending on region and surpassed 1 million units in worldwide cumulative sales on October 9, the fastest in the series. The official program ACE COMBAT 8 Information Bureau #5 repeated that the Ace Combat Zero port will not be sold separately, and the October 13 notice carries the same restriction. An update with bug fixes for Ace Combat 8 is planned.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Ace Combat Zero's Steam bonus port is getting a standalone app so owners don't have to install the 140GB Ace Combat 8 to reach it. Bandai Namco notes it still won't be sold separately.","twitterPost":"The fix for Ace Combat Zero's bonus problem is a standalone Steam app, not a separate purchase. Bandai Namco says only pre-order owners get it, and save data carries over via Steam Cloud.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Bandai Namco is preparing a standalone Steam application for the Ace Combat Zero port bundled with Ace Combat 8 pre-orders, so players can reach it without the main game's 140GB install. The company says the port still will not be sold separately and only pre-order owners will have access.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Automaton\",\"url\":\"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20261013-473259/\",\"title\":\"Ace Combat 8 Pre-Order Bonus Ace Combat Zero Steam Version to Get Standalone Launchable App; Playable Without Installing the 140GB+ Ace Combat 8\"},{\"source\":\"Denfaminicogamer\",\"url\":\"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/2610133v\",\"title\":\"Ace Combat 8 Preorder Bonus Port of Ace Combat Zero Expected to Be Distributed as a Standalone App on Steam; Playable Without Launching Ace Combat 8\"},{\"source\":\"Game Spark\",\"url\":\"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/10/13/173557.html\",\"title\":\"Ace Combat Zero Steam Version Expected to Be Released as Standalone App, Announced - Port Was a Pre-Order Bonus for Ace Combat 8\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":7808,"outputTokens":1004,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1791904029,"createdAt":"2026-10-13T15:01:50.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-10-13T15:06:11.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-13T15:06:11.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_422c18904aa11559c9cbacb8","canonicalTitle":"『エースコンバット8』予約特典の『エースコンバット・ゼロ』Steam版、“単独起動できる”アプリ追加決定。140GB超の『8』をインストールせずに遊べる","representativeArticleId":"a_20c3f92e560bc729b7385d76","sourceCount":3,"writtenSourceCount":3,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"Ace Combat 8\",\"Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War\"],\"studios\":[\"Bandai Namco Entertainment\"],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-10-13T12:08:31.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-10-13T14:51:30.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-13T15:06:12.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Denfaminicogamer","url":"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/2610133v","title":"『エースコンバット8』予約特典の『エースコンバット・ゼロ』移植版、Steamで“単体アプリ”として配信の見通し。『8』本編を起動せずプレイ可能に"},{"source":"Automaton","url":"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20261013-473259/","title":"『エースコンバット8』予約特典の『エースコンバット・ゼロ』Steam版、“単独起動できる”アプリ追加決定。140GB超の『8』をインストールせずに遊べる"},{"source":"Game Spark","url":"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/10/13/173557.html","title":"特典『エスコンZERO』Steam版が単体アプリとして配信できる見通しと発表―『エスコン8』のプレオーダー特典だった移植版"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["Ace Combat 8","Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War"],"studios":["Bandai Namco Entertainment"],"people":[],"type":"news","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on October 13 that the Steam version of Ace Combat Zero will be distributed as a standalone application.","Ace Combat Zero was offered as a pre-order bonus for Ace Combat 8: WINGS OF THEVE and cannot be obtained by players who do not own that bonus.","Ace Combat 8 is roughly 140GB, and the Ace Combat Zero port could not previously be installed separately from it.","Save data between the launch-option version and the standalone version of Ace Combat Zero will be shared through Steam Cloud.","Ace Combat 8 launched on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam) and surpassed 1 million units in worldwide cumulative sales on October 9, the fastest in the series."]}