Ace Combat Zero gets its own standalone app on Steam, freeing it from the 136GB install of Ace Combat 8
Bandai Namco says Ace Combat Zero will become a standalone Steam app, allowing players to download and launch the game without installing Ace Combat 8. The change addresses complaints about bundling the older game with a much larger release.
Zero is a 3.2GB port of a 2006 PlayStation 2 game, while Ace Combat 8 requires 136GB. The standalone version is still a pre-order bonus, so only people who pre-ordered Ace Combat 8 will have access; it is undergoing final quality assurance and compatibility testing, with no release date announced. It will support Steam Cloud saves, while players have also asked for achievements.
- Ace Combat Zero is being separated from Ace Combat 8 on Steam.
- The 3.2GB game was bundled with a 136GB install.
- It remains exclusive to Ace Combat 8 pre-order customers.
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Ace Combat is a series of combat flight games published by Bandai Namco. Ace Combat Zero first came out for PlayStation 2 in 2006, and is a separate, older game from the upcoming Ace Combat 8.
The two games had been linked on Steam: getting Zero required installing Ace Combat 8, a much larger game. The change matters to players who want to play Zero without downloading the newer title; access to Zero remains tied to pre-ordering Ace Combat 8.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Making Ace Combat Zero a standalone app respects players’ storage limits and lets them launch a small, older game without installing a 136GB release. It also responds to complaints about the bundle while preserving the pre-order bonus for eligible buyers.
The case against
Keeping Zero tied to Ace Combat 8 as a pre-order bonus may help make the larger game’s offer more attractive and keep the bonus connected to the release that includes it. A separate app also requires its own quality assurance and compatibility work, which could take time and resources before a release date is set.