Project Aces Reviews Standalone Steam Release for Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War

Project Aces is reviewing the possibility of releasing Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War as a standalone title on Steam, following player frustration over its initial bundling with Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve.

In a statement, the developer said it had engaged in continued discussions with platform partners and other relevant parties regarding the matter. It is currently reviewing specific implementation details and distribution timing, and will provide an update once finalized.

Before launch, a modern port of Ace Combat Zero was marketed as a free bonus for players who purchased Ace Combat 8 before October 2nd. However, when advanced access went live, the wording changed to indicate that players would need to download Ace Combat 8, which is roughly 150 GB, just to access Ace Combat Zero.

Project Aces explained that the PC bundling approach was due to licensing restrictions and platform-related considerations. On consoles, Ace Combat Zero remains a standalone title and requires significantly less storage space.

The developer acknowledged player frustration and stated it remains committed to delivering the title in a manner that meets player expectations. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve continues to perform well on Steam, becoming the series' biggest launch on the platform.