Following player reports of crashes while playing Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve on PC, Bandai Namco Aces has provided a statement confirming that it is investigating the matter. Initial results of this investigation point to asynchronous computation affecting game stability when players are using certain GPUs. In the meantime, the studio has released an update to provide a temporary fix.
The update itself allows players with GPUs capable of Async Compute to enable the option through the game’s System menu. Those who don’t have capable GPUs for this will find the option to be grayed out and unavailable. “Players experiencing crashes may see improvements by changing this setting to OFF,” said the studio. It has also noted that it is continuing to investigate the issue to pursue a long-term solution for the crashes.
“At the same time, we continue to investigate and address multiple other causes of crashes. We remain committed to improving stability and resolving these issues as quickly as possible.
“We sincerely apologize for the prolonged inconvenience caused by these crashes. We will continue our efforts to provide a more stable gameplay experience and thank you for your continued patience and support.”
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve was released on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S last month. The title was released to critical acclaim, and even in our review, we gave it a score of 9 out of 10 thanks to its story, gameplay, visuals, and soundtrack. For more on why it is one of the standout releases of the year, take a look at our thoughts.
Those who pre-ordered Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve also got a free copy of PS2-era classic Ace Combat 0: The Belkan War. However, PC players discovered that the title could only be played through Ace Combat 8, requiring a massive download for what would have otherwise been a considerably smaller game. Following player feedback, Bandai Namco Aces released an update to turn The Belkan War into a standalone game that could be downloaded and launched without needing Wings of Theve also installed.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve takes place ten years after the events of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown. A war has broken out between the Federation of Central Usea and the Republic of Sotoa, with the latter making use of a mysterious squadron known as the Shadow Unit to maintain aerial supremacy. After Sotoa is able to occupy FCU’s capital city of Theve, the citizens and leftover military forces are left with no other option but to set out on a flotilla of aircraft carriers to survive.
The player takes on the role of an unnamed pilot who is given the nickname “Wings of Theve”. While the title itself is meant to be propaganda to boost the spirits of FCU refugees, through the player’s actions, the Wings of Theve starts truly earning the name thanks to their incredible aerial combat capabilities and the ability to instil hope in those who watch them.
Wings of Theve’s release was preceeded by an episodic series of live-action short films dubbed Ace Combat: Hour Zero, which tells the story leading up to the war.
