Bandai Namco celebrates 30 years of Ace Combat and teases news about next game

June 30, 2025, marks a special occasion for the Ace Combat series — its 30th birthday. Back on June 30, 1995, the first game of the franchise was released for PlayStation in Japan without any of the developers knowing that it would spawn a franchise that would last over three decades in the tumultuous video game industry.

In a special message to fans, brand director Kazutoki Kono expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported the aerial combat game series throughout its history. “Thank you, sincerely, from the bottom of my heart,” he wrote. “Over the past thirty years, times have changed. Values have shifted, technologies have evolved. Our company and our team have continually transformed to navigate these tides. In a word, we’ve embraced change. There were times we may not have fully met your expectations. But I also believe there were moments when we exceeded them — when we soared higher than anyone imagined.”

He added: “After three incredible decades of adapting to change, we’ve built an enduring bond of trust with all of you. That connection is the very force that has sustained the Ace Combat series and propelled it into the future. I can now feel this truth in every fiber of my being. And I’m proud — proud that our ongoing commitment to delivering value and earning your trust has led us to this 30th anniversary.”

At the end of his message, the director wrote: “And now, we’re ready. Everything is in place. It’s time to take flight once again — toward even greater heights.”

Fans have taken this statement to mean that news about the upcoming iteration of the franchise might be inbound. The next Ace Combat game has been announced in 2021, so it’s been in the oven for at least four years at this point. Bandai Namco’s anniversary video for the series also teased news on the upcoming game, with the series’ mascot taking fans behind the scenes of the production.

To celebrate the anniversary, a third edition of the Ace Combat Symphony concert will be held on January 31, 2026, in Saitama Kaikan’s Large Hall.

More news on DBLTAP: