ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES UNKNOWN

ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES UNKNOWN is an aerial combat action game by Project Aces and Bandai Namco Studios. The campaign follows pilot Trigger in the Lighthouse War in the fictional world of Strangereal. In the conflict between Osea and Erusea, modern fighter jets, autonomous drones and the struggle over a space elevator collide.

Players take control of different combat machines and complete a series of story-driven missions. The focus is on target lock-on, fast flight maneuvers, missiles and special weapons, not the full procedures of a professional flight simulation. A dedicated online mode complements the single-player story. The later Nintendo Switch version also includes several extra content packs that were previously released separately.

ACE COMBAT 7 was released on Jan 18, 2019 on PS4 and Xbox One. The official PC release via Steam followed on Feb 1, 2019. On July 11, 2024, the standalone Deluxe Edition for Nintendo Switch was released, which also includes six content packs that were originally released separately.

Release dates distinguish native releases. A playable older console version via backward compatibility does not automatically mean a standalone version for PS5 or Xbox Series.

Bandai Namco lists the native versions for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows PC and Nintendo Switch. The Switch Deluxe Edition was released as a standalone release on July 11, 2024 and already includes the six early season pass expansions. A playable older version on PS5 or Xbox Series, however, does not yet count as a separate native platform version.

PS4 has special missions designed specifically for PlayStation VR. These are not a cross-platform VR mode and are therefore not presented as a feature of the PC, Xbox or Switch version. The editions also differ in the scope of bundled DLC. If you choose an edition, you should weigh these long-term differences more than mere store labels.

Fast air battles, radar and visual contact, targeted use of missiles and other weapons, and spectacular maneuvers take center stage. Different jets and special weapons change the tactical options. The missions tell an ongoing story about pilot Trigger and the Lighthouse War in the fictional world of Strangereal.

The game uses detailed cloud landscapes and a cinematic presentation of flight maneuvers. Despite realistically inspired machines, the controls are designed for accessible air combat action. The online mode complements the single-player campaign but does not replace it.

The original Season Pass bundles three additional aircraft and three more story missions. The aircraft packs include ADF-11F Raven, ADF-01 FALKEN and ADFX-01 Morgan. The additional missions are called Unexpected Visitor, Anchorhead Raid and Ten Million Relief Plan.

These six expansions are already included in the Switch Deluxe Edition. Selected bonuses and a music player are also included. On other platforms, the content may be offered separately or within packs; additional aircraft sets are not standalone base games.

The Steam requirements list, at minimum, an Intel Core i3-7100, 4 GB RAM, a GeForce GTX 750 Ti with 2 GB and 50 GB free storage. A 64-bit system and DirectX 11 are required. The Windows versions listed at the time ran from 7 to 10; this is the historical requirements list, not a recommendation for operating systems without current support.

The store recommends a Core i5-7500, 8 GB RAM and a GTX 1060 with 3 GB. The details refer to 1080p performance profiles with varying graphics settings and may differ in demanding scenes.

Besides the campaign missions, ACE COMBAT 7 has a competitive online section. The official description of the Switch version confirms battles with two to eight players. This part is separate from the story-driven single-player campaign.

On PS4 there are also missions developed specifically for PlayStation VR. They are not part of the standard campaign on all platforms and cannot be equated with a general VR mode on PC or Switch. When choosing a platform, these lasting differences in play options matter more than small technical adjustments.

ACE COMBAT 7 returns to the fictional world of Strangereal. There, the Osean Federation and the Kingdom of Erusea face each other. The Lighthouse War forms the backdrop for pilots, drones, a contested space project and political decisions. The player takes on the role of Trigger.

The plot combines realistic aircraft models with a freely invented story and futuristic technology. If you don't know the series, you can play the campaign as a standalone entry; links to earlier entries explain the world but are not required to understand individual dogfights.

The Switch version from July 11, 2024 includes the full main campaign alongside six expansions that were originally sold separately: three aircraft packs and the three story missions Unexpected Visitor, Anchorhead Raid and Ten Million Relief Plan. Also included are selected bonus aircraft, skins, emblems and a music player.

On Switch, online dogfights for two to eight players are also possible. Further DLC packs may be sold separately. The content of the Deluxe Edition therefore differs from the original base game on the other platforms.