Bandai Namco has announced a live-action prelude of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, titled “HOUR ZERO,” will release starting on September 15. It will launch in four installments, leading up to the game’s release on October 2.
The short film will star Josh Holloway (Lost, Yellostone), Brandon Routh (Superman Returns, Chuck), and Tamlyn Tomita (Cobra Kai). It will serve as a prequel to the main game. Check out the teaser trailer for the upcoming live-action “HOUR ZERO” short film below:
The press release further outlines the short:
Three strangers survive the opening days of the Republic of Sotoa’s invasion of the Federation of Central Usea. Josh Holloway stars as a pilot with nowhere to land, Brandon Routh as a doctor who saved his enemy, and Tamlyn Tomita as a news anchor silenced for telling the truth. Told in reverse and grounded in the family lives of its three leads, their stories count down to the moment when their normal lives were shattered and war began. Their story sets the stage for the narrative players will experience in the deep, engaging Campaign Mode in ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve launches on October 2 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Pre-orders are available now for $69.99, and Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve players will receive a digital port of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War as a pre-order bonus alongside an unlocked playable in-game F-14A aircraft. Lastly, check out our preview of Wings of Theve, as well as our interview with both Manabu Shimomoto and Kazutoki Kono.