- ACE COMBAT™ reaches a major milestone in celebrating its 30th anniversary and 20 million units sold to-date, with a special “thank you” message from Kazutoki Kono, long-time series brand director.
- Kick off celebrations with a new commemorative trailer, anniversary wallpapers, the revamp of the ACES WEB website, and the ACE COMBAT Original Soundtrack streaming launch.
- Watch the new anniversary trailer here: https://youtu.be/OYWwUqkBXAI?si=OxJk1bT4YahtSTjg
IRVINE, Calif. – June 30, 2025 – The ACE COMBAT Series began 30 years ago today with the PlayStation launch of Air Combat. Debuting on the original PlayStation console, the game laid the groundwork for a sprawling series that brings hyper-realistic aerial combat and intense military-drama storytelling to players around the globe, having recently surpassed the 20 million cumulative sales milestone. To mark the occasion, Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., will begin celebrations with a series commemorative trailer: https://youtu.be/OYWwUqkBXAI?si=OxJk1bT4YahtSTjg
ACE COMBAT series brand director Kazutoki Kono also has a direct message to convey to series fans in honor of the 30th anniversary:
Since the release of the first title in 1995, thanks to your unwavering support, the ACE COMBAT Series has reached a remarkable milestone, its 30th anniversary in 2025.
First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all our fans and everyone involved who has supported the series throughout the years. Thank you, sincerely, from the bottom of my heart. This moment is our chance to return thirty years’ worth of appreciation to you.
I believe that sustaining a legacy over three decades means far more than simply the passage of time. I’ve always shared this message with everyone involved in the series:
“To deliver emotionally resonant, high-quality experiences that exceed expectations, to spark excitement for what comes next—and then to meet that anticipation with even greater ambition. By continuing this cycle, we build a bond of trust with our players, and that bond is the truest expression of our gratitude.”
Over the past thirty years, times have changed. Values have shifted, technologies have evolved, and certain cultures have faded. 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.
Namco’s founder, Masaya Nakamura, once said, “Only those who can adapt to change will survive.”
I joined Namco in 1994. Back then, I understood those words intellectually—but not yet from experience.
Now, I truly do.
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.
And now, we're ready. Everything is in place. It’s time to take flight once again—toward even greater heights.
June 30, 2025
Brand director of ACE COMBAT Series
Kazutoki Kono
Also on deck for the series anniversary celebration is the relaunch of the ACES WEB website (https://www.acecombat.jp/) with English language support. With the help of Bandai Namco Game Music, the “ACE COMBAT Original Soundtrack” is now available on major streaming services and for digital downloads, curating 19 tracks from the series’ history. More is planned, including refreshed social channels.
ACE COMBAT™7: SKIES UNKNOWN is the latest game in the series, and is currently available on Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam. Find out more from the game’s official website.
For press only, static assets are available at the Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. press room at
www.bneapressroom.com; a library of video trailers ready for embedding are available on our YouTube
channel at www.youtube.com/c/BandaiNamcoEntertainmentAmerica.
For information on this title and other products from Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., please
visit www.bandainamcoent.com. Join the conversation on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS, check us out live on Twitch at https://twitch.tv/bandainamcous,
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About Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.
Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., part of the Bandai Namco Group, is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for major video game consoles, PC, online, and mobile platforms. The company is known for creating many of the industry’s beloved classic franchises such as PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®, and publishing the critically acclaimed DARK SOULS™ series and the blockbuster title ELDEN RING™. Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. is also the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime-based video games including GUNDAM™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL™, and ONE PIECE®. Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. is headquartered in Irvine, California. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com.
ACE COMBAT™Series & ������Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
ACE COMBAT™7: SKIES UNKNOWN & ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
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All trademarks and copyrights associated with the manufacturers, aircraft, models, trade names, brands and visual images depicted in this game are the property of their respective owners, and used with such permissions.
Press Release ©Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.
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PRESS CONTACT:
John Hardin
Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.
jhardin@bnea.com
