Ace Combat Zero standalone on Steam frees up space from AC8
The world of flight simulation is currently buzzing around Ace Combat 8, which has garnered high praise from critics, with some reviewers awarding it a solid 92%. As players immerse themselves in the thrilling campaign, the attention soon turned to a less-than-stellar companion piece that complicated the launch experience.
The friction arose from a particular bundling decision made by Bandai Namco: the inclusion of Ace Combat Zero (ACZ) as a free pre-order bonus with Ace Combat 8. While ACZ is a series fan-favorite, its integration into the main launcher created a significant technical headache for PC gamers.
The issue was purely logistical. Attempting to access the small 3.2GB port of the 2006 PlayStation 2 title meant users were forced to contend with the massive 136 gigabytes of the AC8 game, a decision that caused considerable frustration among early reviewers.
However, that bundling drama has finally reached a happy conclusion. In a recent update, Bandai Namco announced a change designed to smooth the experience for PC players: Ace Combat Zero will now be made available as a standalone application on Steam.
This adjustment offers several tangible benefits. Most notably, the change frees up a substantial amount of precious SSD space. Furthermore, the move allows Ace Combat Zero to support Steam Cloud saves, providing players with the convenience of syncing their progress across devices.
While some community members requested the inclusion of achievements—a feature present in the console release—the core functionality has been successfully separated. The change has been very well received by the community, as evidenced by the large volume of feedback shared shortly after the announcement.
Although the specific timeline for this emancipation remains unstated, players can anticipate that this necessary separation will happen soon, ensuring that the focus remains squarely on the exhilarating world of Ace Combat.
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