Ace Combat 6 revealed as an Xbox 360 exclusive

by Jared Rea { Mar 20th 2007 at 12:30PM }

In an event that shall only be referred to as "Mondayton," Capcom shocked everyone by announcing a would-be exclusive for Microsoft's platform. Today, it's Namco Bandai's turn. Mirroring the Xbox 360 launch with Ridge Racer 6, Ace Combat 6: Kaiho e no Senbi has been unveiled as an Xbox 360 exclusive.

IGN did the Famitsu translation work for the rest of us and fished out the details. Helming the project will be Ace Combat veterans Hiroyuki Ichiyanagi and Natsuki Isaki, serving as producer and director respectively. There will be two huge additions to the series with the first being the Dynamic Mission system. Players will be teaming up with ally pilots that can be manipulated to take care of various tasks outside the scope of the primary objective, which can then open up new missions mid-battle.

The other addition? Online play, of course. While no number of players are mentioned, there are currently battle royal and team battle modes, as well as a co-operative play that allows players to team-up against an enemy force.

Ace Combat 6 is due out in Japan this year with no set release or announcement for the Western world, though expect one sooner than later.

Tags: acecombat, acecombat6, mondayton, namcobandai

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Supino @ Mar 20th 2007 12:33PM

Microsoft is on a killing spree today.

good news!

Vexorg @ Mar 20th 2007 12:34PM

Ace Combat is a Namco property, not Capcom.

Ant D @ Mar 20th 2007 12:34PM

YES!!! This will rule!!

Jack @ Mar 20th 2007 12:35PM

Vexorg, read more carefully.

OH SHI- by the way. 360 wins for sure, now.

Myke @ Mar 20th 2007 12:36PM

Oh my god, seriously, oh my god. I'm sure it will come out for PS3 as well at some point but for a series that was born on PS1, raised on PS2 and now left home...holy sh*t thats crazy good news for Microsoft.

Shagittarius @ Mar 20th 2007 12:36PM

How was Ace Combat 1 - 5? I've never played them.

Jack of No Trades @ Mar 20th 2007 12:38PM

The 360 will go down as the best gaming system ever. It has many great games and is at a reasonable price. This is a golden gen for video games.

Adam Sutherland @ Mar 20th 2007 12:38PM

I'm incredibly excited about this. A buddy and I were just talking about how we wanted a good aerial combat game on 360. This one is the best hands down.

RoboJoel @ Mar 20th 2007 12:41PM

So I guess PS3 is going to get the exclusive Ace Combat 7 (glorified rehash of 6, of course) one year later?

AirIntake @ Mar 20th 2007 12:42PM

I've always wanted to play Ace Combat games, but I owned an Xbox, not a PS2. This generation, it's going to be the other way around.

Myke @ Mar 20th 2007 12:42PM

"How was Ace Combat 1 - 5? I've never played them."

Well it was Air Combat at first in the US and then Ace Combat 2 came out and it went from there. The games that I've played (1-4) were fan-fucking-tastic =)

jojo29 @ Mar 20th 2007 3:27PM

april fools??

Intentless @ Mar 20th 2007 12:46PM

And Sony takes another punch to the gut... They are not out but they are hurting.

dsub @ Mar 20th 2007 12:46PM

Shagittarius-

Ace Combat 0-5 were fantastic. I say 0 because the latest release was Ace Combat: Zero.

All were fantastic. In the genre of console Jet Sims, Ace Combat is the top dog. Always has been. Nothing else has been able to compare. Ever since I played the series originally on PS1 I've been hooked. Everything from the controls, to the environments, to the weapons and missions is great, and usually pretty challenging as well.

Any 360 owner would be a fool not to buy this game. The though of Ace Combat in 720p on my 62" DLP with cranked up full blown Dolby Digital brings a tear to my eye.

...and online play? Holy shit. I hope they have some two-seat planes like the F-14 (it was in previous Ace Combat games) that would enable co-op play with two different players in the same aircraft. Wow. I can't wait.

The last 24 hours have been great for 360 owners. Now waiting for all these fantastic games is going to be the hard part.

Adam Sutherland @ Mar 20th 2007 12:46PM

Ace Combat 4 was the best air combat game I've ever played (skipped AC5). This is a huge get for Microsoft. I'm very happy with my 360.

Myke @ Mar 20th 2007 12:49PM

Belkin War was my fav.

Myke @ Mar 20th 2007 12:51PM

Belkan*

OhJustSomeRandomGuy @ Mar 20th 2007 12:56PM

They've basically been recycling the plot and the missions for some time now. Online play means I'll be picking this one up, though, since the only flight combat game on the 360 right now, Over-G Fighters sucked something fierce. (Your planes turned as if they were made of 24-karat LEAD and to cancel out all realism, the missiles auto-restocked in flight!)

Honestly, I think the series peaked with the front 2/3 of Ace Combat 5. AC0 was crap. (Though Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception on the PSP actually wasn't bad for a portable.)

Myke @ Mar 20th 2007 12:58PM

Come on man, at least Belkan War tried something mildly different. I was so burned out on the road that the series was taken that by the time 5 came around I played a demo and said "to hell with that" and skipped to 0. Eh, to each his own I guess.

ShaleX @ Mar 20th 2007 2:39PM

RoboJoel: LOL, that's just what I was thinking.

Ridge Racer 7 was Ridge Racer 6 with a patch.... which Namco should have released. But I betcha AC6 will make it back to PS3 one way or another

nepos13 @ Mar 20th 2007 2:56PM

HOLY SMOKIN ACES! Online dogfighting just got a little better! Great news for my 360! This series was fantastic on my ps1 and ps2. I can't wait!

Arno @ Mar 20th 2007 1:11PM

"DOUBLE KILL!!!"

X @ Mar 20th 2007 1:13PM

Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies was the greatest flight sim ever!

jojo29 @ Mar 20th 2007 3:27PM

Come on, this is clearly in April Fool's

Namco ( very strong sony supporter ) releasing one of their higher profile games for the 360( which is probable, but..) ONLY in JAPAN???(

Jake @ Mar 20th 2007 1:33PM

Wow, more bad news for the PS3, as I would have assumed this to be at the very least a multiconsole PS360 game, if not a PS3 exclusive. A franchise that saw so many consecutive Playstation launches has left.

The 360 is shaping up unbelievably well. It has 9 million+ selling games in its first 15 months (amazing, actually) and a lot of high profile games on the way, with AC6 being the most recently announced. Yet another title to diversify the 360's already quite broad library.

Infinity @ Mar 20th 2007 1:42PM

I own all versions of AC.
I am very disappointed.
I am not going to buy AC6.

Just lost a die-hard AC Fan.

BucklingLeader @ Mar 20th 2007 1:52PM

sweet! this is great news for 360 owners.

and a huge LOL at the pic there in post, makes ya think who plays Goose...XD

REUYL @ Mar 20th 2007 1:53PM

Wow, 360 is on a roll right now. This is another large blow to Sony, I'd imagine.

mj @ Mar 20th 2007 1:53PM

I think it peaked with AC3 + 4. Completely opposite games story-wise.

I'm thrilled this is coming to 360 because the single player missions have gotten a little old after 100+ of them in the last 10 years or so. So XBL support should be awe-some!

ScottG13 @ Mar 20th 2007 3:59PM

@22

May be you should buy a 360.

fester @ Mar 20th 2007 2:55PM

More great news for 360! Now ps3 fb's please give up and accept the facts.

It's a great time to own a good priced system with the best GPU and rumble for sure ;)

bounchfx @ Mar 20th 2007 4:25PM

"22. I own all versions of AC.
I am very disappointed.
I am not going to buy AC6.

Just lost a die-hard AC Fan."

the only thing that comes to my mind?

you are a fucking DOUCHE, they lose a fan because its on 360? you know, you could still LIKE the game series without owning a 360, and still like the game.

but to outright say "they lost a fan" because it changes consoles?

what will you do if they announce it on ps3 eventually? will you magically like it again?

Dracula Jones @ Mar 20th 2007 2:19PM

I love my 360, but come on... "Jack of No Trades" is clearly a stealth marketing person for Microsoft. Every single post!

Afterlifer82 @ Mar 20th 2007 2:37PM

This is cool but when are we going to see the new Crimson Skies????

Dom @ Mar 20th 2007 3:10PM

I think Ace Combat left the PS3 since Sony said "screw you Ace Combat, we have Warhawk!!!" Don't any of you agree?

LongshotX @ Mar 20th 2007 3:10PM

And the train just keeps on moving faster and faster and with more power...

Damn, give it just a few more months and Xbox 360 is really going to be kicking Next Gen Ass.

deaftly @ Mar 20th 2007 3:11PM

great to hear, another one strikes the dust

Yourmom @ Mar 20th 2007 5:25PM

@Infinity

http://orangestory.ytmnd.com/

I think you need to look at that buddy.
_______________________________________

And awesome! I can't wait to try out this game.
Never played it on PS/PS2 but I might give it a try.

Crono @ Mar 20th 2007 3:50PM

I'm not sure, but I don't think the Japanese "celebrate" april fools day.

And since the source is famitsu, well, lets just say its probably not an april fools joke.

Ben @ Mar 20th 2007 5:33PM

People, Ace Combat is NOT a 'sim'. There is nothing 'sim' about it, which is what makes it so fantastic. Just crazy-cool arcade flying.

Go buy flight simulator if you want variable flaps, roll spoilers, and detailed aerodynamics.

Buy Ace Combat if you want to look good, fly fast and shoot some sh1t up.

Hideo Siegel @ Mar 20th 2007 7:19PM

This is terible news for me I'm a Ace Combat fan ,but MS screwed me over by taking 3 months to repair and return my 360.I hope it is released on ps3 too.

Miles @ Mar 20th 2007 10:15PM

Someone already said it, but AC is in no way a sim. I wonder if they're gonna release some sort of Collector's addition with a flight stick like the Belkan War did.

nirvana shell @ Mar 21st 2007 12:06AM

Hot rumour: The Sony office redesign features hallways lined with ladders to walk under, and new fandangled mirrored floors that crack under every step. They also have a resident black cat, simply named "Phil" who took up residence shortly after the Playstation 3 launch...

Steve @ Mar 21st 2007 1:31AM

"31. I think Ace Combat left the PS3 since Sony said "screw you Ace Combat, we have Warhawk!!!" Don't any of you agree?

Posted at 3:10PM on Mar 20th 2007 by Dom"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAOHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHEHEHEHEHEHEHOHOHOHOHHAHAHAHA.

sonicyouth @ Mar 21st 2007 2:44AM

I'll believe it when I see it. I'll also wager with anyone that there will be a AC game on PS3 in the next 24 months. When the install base is there, it will happen. Funny how MS fanboys take any opportunity to jump on Sony. Pathetic. AC6 on 360 will be a big boost for MS though.

Below is why I won't buy a 360. At least until QC is much better, if ever. I've heard this too many times:

41. "...but MS screwed me over by taking 3 months to repair and return my 360."

lessbiasedthanmost @ Mar 21st 2007 3:12AM

I honestly haven't been into flight sims since the X-wing era, so....
I think flight sims and driving/racing games are about the best games for motion sensing since nearly everyone at least leans the controller as they play either.

But good job 360, probably would've been pretty fun with the PS3 controls, even more fun w/ Wii controls.

Chris @ Mar 21st 2007 5:11PM

You know, I'm glad AC6 is coming out for the 360 and for one reason;

Co-operative play. Over-G fighters is the best console flight game I have ever played (though the complexity, difficulty and realism drove several people off) and was damn solid online.

Also, all you PS3 fanboys complaining about us jumping on the PS3; you did the same thing to the Xbox. Now the tables are turned and Sony is losing all of their big titles! Ha ha!

The PS3 is trash. They stole from Nintendo (note how there was no motion detection until AFTER the Wii announcement) and are trying to out-tech Microsoft, which is another mistake. For all the PS3's power, I have yet to see an original game that beats Gears of War in graphical quality that wasn't pre-rendered.

Matthew Lesko @ Mar 22nd 2007 1:18PM

ike someone said above, ace comabt isn't a flight sim. It's actually pretty far from a flight sim

I love the franchise, but it's very acarde rooted.

master_ace @ Mar 26th 2007 12:10AM

im one of the biggest ac fans i have played,beaten,gotin every medal and every plane in all of the games but i also like sony and i will not turn my back on them even for my fav game plz let ther be a ps3 version.to namco capcom who ever is in charge plz dont turn your back on the peopol that made your game what it is today the best flight game ever made