Launch & Account Checklists
Most pre-launch mistakes come from mixing separate conditions: store region, edition ownership, preorder timing, account entitlement, hardware readiness and mode-specific unlock rules.
Each checklist turns a confirmed store or publisher condition into a short verification sequence. It avoids unsupported preload times, console performance promises and account-transfer assumptions.
Standard Edition Launch Checklist
Standard owners should verify the October 2 local unlock, preorder eligibility, installation space and account license; three-day access is not included.
Open guide →02 · Pre-launch verificationDeluxe Early Access Checklist
Deluxe owners should confirm the edition license, September 28 3:00 PM PDT store timing, installed base game and the separate Premium Ace Pass Plus voucher.
Open guide →03 · Pre-launch verificationPreorder Bonus Claim Checklist
A qualifying preorder should show F-14A and the platform-specific Ace Combat Zero version; verify both on the same purchasing account.
Open guide →04 · Pre-launch verificationPC Install Readiness Checklist
PC requires Windows 11, 16 GB RAM, 125 GB free on an SSD, DirectX 12 Shader Model 6.6 and a hardware-ray-tracing GPU at minimum.
Open guide →05 · Pre-launch verificationOnline First Session Checklist
Before entering the air-base lobby, review chat, privacy, crossplay and platform subscription settings, then separate crossplay from unconfirmed cross-progression.
Open guide →06 · Pre-launch verificationAce Pass Season 1 Checklist
Decide among Free, Premium and Premium Plus only after separating reward access, the 30-level skip and the Morgan–PIXY mode restriction.
Open guide →07 · Pre-launch verificationConsole Version Checklist
Buy only the confirmed PS5 or Xbox Series X|S version; PS4, Xbox One and Switch 2 releases are not announced.
Open guide →08 · Pre-launch verificationRegional Time & Language Checklist
Use the local store unlock timer for access and the 13-language Steam table for AC8 text support; do not apply the smaller Ace Combat Zero list to the main game.
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