ARC Raiders vs Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve
These are different games for different players, not close substitutes. ARC Raiders is a $40 third-person extraction shooter out now on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with solo or three-player squads and four maps at launch. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a $70 arcade flight-combat game due October 2, 2026, with a story campaign and the series' largest online mode. Buy ARC Raiders if you want to play now and like looting and extracting with friends. Pre-order Ace Combat 8 if you want cinematic dogfights and can wait.
Ask our shopping agent
ARC Raiders
Choose the ARC Raiders if you want a co-op extraction shooter you can play today on PC, PS5 or Xbox, at roughly half the price.
Pros
- Out now, so no waiting.
- $40, about $30 less than Ace Combat 8.
- Solo or three-player squads with crafting and a skill tree.
- Evolving map conditions keep runs varied.
Cons
- Extraction shooter loop is punishing and not for everyone.
- Only four maps at launch.
- Gear loss on death can frustrate new players.
What separates them
| ARC Raiders | Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Third-person extraction shooter with PvPvE | Arcade flight-combat action with a story campaign |
| Release status | Out now | Releases October 2, 2026 |
| Price | $40 standard edition | $70 standard edition |
| Platforms | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC |
| Online play | Solo or squads of up to three | ACE COMBAT ONLINE, the largest online mode in the series |
| Structure | Runs on four maps with shifting weather, enemies and mechanics | Mission-based campaign with first-person story scenes between missions |
| Progression | Skill tree split into Survival, Mobility and Conditioning; craft and upgrade gear in your workshop | Squad bonds and rank progression across missions |
| PC requirements |
Price history
- ARC Raiders: lowest $34.29 on Nov 1 at Fanatical.
- Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve: lowest $66.49 on Nov 1.
Prices at every store
ARC Raiders
- FanaticalCheck price at Fanatical
- neweggbusiness.comCheck price at neweggbusiness.com
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve
- AmazonCheck price at Amazon
- eBayCheck price at eBay
- Rock 30 GamesCheck price at Rock 30 Games
Specs compared
| Spec | ARC Raiders | Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve |
|---|---|---|
| System | PC | PlayStation 5 |
| Genre | Shooter, Action | Action, Adventure |
| Form Factor | Download | — |
| Release date | — | 2nd Oct 2026 |
| Available languages | — | Japanese |
| Subtitles | — | German, Spanish - castillan, French, English, I… |
| Minimum OS | — | Windows 11 |
| Minimum processor | — | Intel Core i7-10700K / AMD Ryzen 5 3600X |
| Minimum memory | — | 16 GB RAM |
| Minimum graphics | — | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060[6 GB] |
Questions and answers
- Which is better for playing with friends?
- Both work. ARC Raiders puts you in squads of up to three for looting and extraction runs. Ace Combat 8 offers ACE COMBAT ONLINE, the largest online mode in the series, with lobbies and a custom avatar.
- Is ARC Raiders worth it over Ace Combat 8?
- If you want to play now and spend less, yes: it is out now at $40 versus $70 on October 2, 2026. If you want a story-driven flight game, Ace Combat 8 is the one to wait for.
- Which has more content?
- Ace Combat 8 promises a full campaign plus its biggest online mode yet. ARC Raiders launches with four maps and expanding conditions, with more maps planned as the game grows.
- Can my PC run Ace Combat 8?
- It needs Windows 11, 16 GB RAM, an RTX 2060 or better and 125 GB of storage; 32 GB RAM is recommended. ARC Raiders has much lighter requirements.
- Do I need PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live to play them online?
- Yes for online play on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. On PC, Steam handles online play without a console subscription.
- Which is better for solo players?
- ARC Raiders supports solo runs, though you will meet other players. Ace Combat 8's campaign is built for single-player, so it is the safer pick if you avoid PvP.