Ace Combat 7 Hits 7 Million Sales: A Sky-High Milestone
Bandai Namco has confirmed that ACce Combat 7: Skies Unknown has now surpassed 7 million copies sold worldwide. The new sales milestone sets the franchise up for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, which is launching late 2026.
Achieving 7 million sales didn’t happen overnight for Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown and Bandai Namco. It took a steady, seven-year climb since the game’s initial launch in January 2019.
This milestone, confirmed by Bandai Namco on X, is critical because it proves the genre has mainstream viability, directly greenlighting the massive budget for the upcoming sequel.
With Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve confirmed for a 2026 release on next-gen consoles, fans aren’t just celebrating the past, but gearing up for the franchise’s biggest year yet.
👉 READ ALSO: Top Games to Play in 2026
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown: A Sky-High Milestone
Ace Combat 7 defied the standard decay curve. Through consistent word-of-mouth, robust DLC support, and the sheer spectacle of its dogfights, it kept selling.
This figure puts it comfortably at the top of the franchise’s sales charts. It outperforms legendary predecessors on the PS2, marking a new golden era for developer Project Aces.
#ACECOMBAT7 SKIES UNKNOWN has now been available for seven years and has surpassed 7 million copies sold worldwide. We are deeply grateful that so many players have continued flying with us for so long. We look forward to meeting you again in the next skies. – Kazutoki Kono pic.twitter.com/wvUWedeRpr
— Ace Combat (@AceCombatGames) January 16, 2026
AC7 vs The Franchise Legacy
Project Aces faced a massive challenge with this title: revitalizing a dormant series without alienating veterans. They nailed it by balancing arcade accessibility with “sim-lite” physics.
Previous entries were beloved but often limited by the hardware of their time. AC7 utilized Unreal Engine 4 to deliver weather effects that actually impact gameplay. Lightning strikes mess with your HUD, while clouds offer cover but risk icing up your wings.
This technical leap helped the game cross over into the mainstream. It wasn’t just for pilots anymore, but it was for anyone who wanted to feel like the star of a summer blockbuster.
The game also found a second life through the “Top Gun: Maverick” DLC, which pulled in a wave of movie fans looking to replicate the film’s stunts.
Is Ace Combat 7 Worth It?
Even in 2026, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown remains the undisputed king of arcade flight combat. The visuals still hold up remarkably well, and the soundtrack is arguably one of the best in gaming history. With 7 million players, the community is established, and the content is feature-complete.
Have you earned your wings in the Strangereal universe yet, or are you waiting for Ace Combat 8?
Fueled by a passion for gaming and the ever-evolving world of gaming news, Daniel loves connecting with seasoned and new players to bring games to life on the page, exploring their narratives and gaming trends. A self-published fiction and fantasy author, Daniel has nearly 20 years of experience writing gaming news and a love for storytelling that drives his enthusiasm to deliver breaking news, in-depth analysis, and industry innovations. You will find him in-game as "Windfell."
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