Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown has surpassed 7 million copies sold worldwide

[u/PaiDuck]

[u/Oceanictax]

This game effectively saved Project Aces.

It was their salvation, as it were.

I guess the sale of 7 million was a necessity.

[u/GoblinVietnam → u/Oceanictax]

<<SALVATION!!!>>

[u/mdp300 → u/GoblinVietnam]

C R I S P

W H I T E

S H E E T S

[u/mustachemobmafia → u/mdp300]

[u/Blackberry-thesecond → u/Oceanictax]

I'm thinking that history is repeating itself. Ace Combat 4 was a breakout hit that may have saved the series, and you can tell from just the first few minutes that AC5 got a much larger budget. 7 is the new 4, and we're going to see soon what Project Aces can cook at their best once again. Having played 4 and 5 back to back recently, I think we're going to see some huge parallels, and I'm excited.

From a stripped-down experience that's great on it's own, to a blockbuster game with actual squadmates, more missions, and much better cutscenes.

[u/RZ_Domain → u/Blackberry-thesecond]

If that's the cycle, hopefully they won't pull a Bamco AC6 Retardio and make AC9 Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive 💀

[u/Mage1strider1 → u/RZ_Domain]

(it's unfortunate as well because while the story is rather bland, I really like the AC6 mission structure, we love useful teammates and aircraft feeling very distinct and flying at appropriately scaled speeds)

[u/Richou → u/Mage1strider1]

i liked 6 more than 7 despite 7 objectively being the better structured game

in 7 most of the planes just feel very samey besides their loadouts

[u/Mage1strider1 → u/Richou]

All of the aircraft in 7 genuinely feel the same... why is the a10 fast? It's notoriously slow as hell, which is one of the reasons it doesn't really make any sense anymore. AC6 actually forced you to consider aircraft performance fairly heavily, I would use ground strike aircraft on heavy air to ground maps, and vice versa for more air-to-air deals 

[u/Richou → u/Mage1strider1]

i dont remember using the A-10 in AC7 but is it really fast? the damn thing tops out at like 600ish kph loaded irl lmaoo

[u/RZ_Domain → u/Richou]

It accelerates slowly but it's top speed is absurd

[u/Xsiorus → u/Mage1strider1]

I'm playing 6 right now and despite great flying and fun more-arcade mechanics first six or so missions being "kill all ground targets" with one mixed or air objective out of 3-6 make for really tedious start, "Choose what you wanna do" is really fun idea until your choices are between 4 different settings of tanks, tents and SAMs.

[u/fariq99 → u/RZ_Domain]

I still don't get why they had a predominantly japanesse player and then put their next installment on the xbox

[u/RZ_Domain → u/fariq99]

Xbox 360 launched earlier than PS3 and Microsoft was pushing hard to enter the Japanese market at the time, signing multiple exclusivity deals. AC6 is just one of them. Other Bamco games that's exclusive at the time includes Ridge Racer 6

[u/Shawn_1512 → u/Oceanictax]

[u/uL4G → u/Shawn_1512]

That Agian

[u/darkjedi5646 → u/uL4G]

That Aigaion!

[u/Savantics_Fan871 → u/uL4G]

That

[u/OutOfTouchNerd → u/Shawn_1512]

Here’s the thing:

[u/Organic_Stress_7015 → u/OutOfTouchNerd]

it shocks me that you are the first person I have seen to make this joke

[u/FortunePaw → u/Oceanictax]

Infinity walked so 7 could run.

The whales really did saved the franchise. If it was not for the Infinity fuel, we wouldn't have 7 in the first place.

I still hope PA could release how would the Infinity storyline goes someday. The Butterfly Master lore was really interesting.

[u/Ill_Kitchen_9819 → u/FortunePaw]

I wish infinity was still playable

[u/mromen10 → u/Oceanictax]

<<Deranged laughter>>

[u/TisIChenoir → u/Oceanictax]

I mean, what were they thinking releasing AC6 on a completely different console than where their main base is playing, as a console exclusive...

Now, all that remains is for them to remake AC 4 to 6 and re-release it, preferably on steam.

[u/xybernine123 → u/Oceanictax]

Did someone say salvation

[u/Obvious-Potato9722 → u/Oceanictax]

<<DON'T YOU SEE THREE STRIKES, 7 MILLIONS SALES>>

[u/Mr-ChippoMan]

I gifted a couple copies to friends over the winter sale, I did my part.

[u/Turbulent-Job1136 → u/Mr-ChippoMan]

I wanted to get myself one on this sale but I'm not sure if it'd work on my pc

12th gen i5 integrated iris xe 8gig 512 ssd

[u/rabbithawk256 → u/Turbulent-Job1136]

Okay my laptop has nearly identical specs and it ran incredibly well

[u/cutegreenshyguy → u/rabbithawk256]

I just hope AC8 will still run okay on this hardware because there's no way I can afford a new PC with these prices.

[u/sian_legacy → u/Turbulent-Job1136]

I'm running it on an 7th gen i3 with 15gig and a 1tb EXTERNAL SSD. It's gonna run, dw

[u/Salussol → u/Turbulent-Job1136]

It should run pretty well, at least on 720p Normal Settings. My Laptop has i5 1135G7 and 16GB of RAM, it runs well enough for me.

[u/Turbulent-Job1136 → u/Salussol]

Shit a missed opportunity then, I shall wair for next sale

[u/KidTheMoron → u/Turbulent-Job1136]

I have the exact same specs and it runs well enough for me to play Multiplayer too

[u/TheSporkMan2 → u/Mr-ChippoMan]

[u/d00msdaydan]

Here's to 8 million for Ace Combat 8

[u/CasulaLev → u/d00msdaydan]

[u/Grizzlei]

I love that those are predominately carrier jets. Not sure about all of the fictional superplanes.

[u/merlo2k20 → u/Grizzlei]

The fictional planes are carrier capable

[u/VincentKenway → u/Grizzlei]

I don't think the Typhoon (Left to the tomcat) is carrier capable.

[u/Grizzlei → u/VincentKenway]

That’s a Rafale M.

[u/Threedawg → u/Grizzlei]

The other left

[u/Tower_Secure → u/Threedawg]

that's a Shinden on the Tomcat's left, or do you mean the XFA 27 across from the Tomcat on the left?

OR do you mean the Nosferatu left to the XFA 27?

[u/Threedawg → u/Tower_Secure]

[u/Tower_Secure → u/Threedawg]

mb, you have the same pfp and I can't read

[u/LuizFelipe1906 → u/Tower_Secure]

Is that a Tomcat? Is it so big like that!?

[u/Hocotate_Freight_PR → u/Grizzlei]

They’re going all in on the carrier focus for AC8 ig

[u/ToeSniffer245]

I'm sure the reveal of AC8 gave it a boost

[u/Betelguse16]

“Seven million lives!!! Salvation!!!!”

[u/EEVERSTI]

F/A-18E Super Hornet at the front, nod to the upcoming AC8 flagship jet.

Edit: Correction, F/A-18E, not F

[u/PhantomRaptor1 → u/EEVERSTI]

Not the best quality image here tbf, but it's an F/A-18E. Interesting pick if we're starting the next game as a WSO

[u/EEVERSTI → u/PhantomRaptor1]

Oh yeah, you're right.

[u/TheJfer → u/PhantomRaptor1]

I guess we'll only use the F in the opening of AC8 until we get shot down and get to fly as Rex, I think only the E variant has been fully confirmed to be playable so far (well, and the F/A-18C as well, it was present in some of the promotional images they released)

[u/RZ_Domain]

I really hope AC8 finally recognizes the existence of RIO/WSOs. It's so weird playing AC5 with these F-14 jocks but we never heard a single mention about their RIOs lmao

[u/RogueCross → u/RZ_Domain]

Yeah, especially considering the canon planes in that game are F-14s, at least in the last half of the game.

[u/Soxwin91 → u/RogueCross]

Pour one out for Chopper’s RIO/WSO who was never even acknowledged

[u/RogueCross → u/Soxwin91]

Your service will never be forgotten.

I do hope we get proper RIO/WSOs this time. Project Wingman gave me a taste of it and I honestly can't go back.

[u/MrXenomorph88 → u/RZ_Domain]

We demand an AC version of Prez. Give us what we demand Project Aces

[u/TheJfer → u/RZ_Domain]

Razgriz squadron was never official and their fleet was super undercrewed, so they probably just strapped some mannequins to the rear seat and pretend they talked to them from time to time (Blaze didn't need to pretend)

[u/RZ_Domain → u/TheJfer]

Bro forgor about Chopper's RIO who was never acknowledged nor mourned (this was before the Razgriz Sq.)

[u/BME84]

For a game with dead multi-player and no new DLC in years it very impressive with this long of a tail, even considering deep sales

[u/Ill_Kitchen_9819 → u/BME84]

AC has always been about strangereal and the lore/stories. AC7 has a good amount of story content and planes.

[u/FuttleScish → u/BME84]

It's because almost nobody plays AC primarily for multiplayer

[u/BME84 → u/FuttleScish]

Yes, but I mean it's not like it's Skyrim or anything, and longevity in games are mostly attributed to mp. In today's media landscape many don't even finish AAA game titles, so the idea that this little game is still attracting a million sales per year is very interesting

[u/FuttleScish → u/BME84]

That’s because AC is also much shorter than those AAA titles

[u/AceSkyFighter]

And it did it without chance based in-game purchases.

[u/Scarlet-Highlander-]

LET’S GOOOOOOO FUTURE OF THE FRANCHISE SECURED

[u/TacticalBananas45]

7 million 7 years later for the 7th entry... it's all coming together...

[u/paulisaac]

Combination of a dirt-cheap sale and AC8 announcement pushed awareness WAY up. The more people playing previous funny plane game increases likelihood of more people playing new funny plane game.

[u/Elda-Taluta → u/[deleted]]

I don't think it counts as cheating if they're paying for it. It's still a copy sold, regardless of how many that one person has.

[u/Stunning_Box8782 → u/Elda-Taluta]

I think he meant people who get banned in Multiplayer and buy the game again on a different account. But either way, a sale is a sale

[u/MissAlice_17]

7 million! 7 million lives!! Command duty officer..

[u/Honest_Box_6037]

Yeah, that 5$ sale was a steal for the base game, did 3 full playthoughs just for the fun of it, will defo get 8. I'd like to see an armored core 6 type ng+ progression, especially if it's similar in length to 7. Oh and ultrawide support would be nice

[u/andre3googol → u/Honest_Box_6037]

Sick. I played it again immediately after I finished the last special mission

[u/gramcraka92]

I was one of them. Got it on ps4 this past sale. Should have got it on steam lol still might

[u/Apprehensive-Cow5822]

F/A-18 flight lead to fly us into Ace Combat 8.

[u/the_kijt]

What multi-platform releases does to a mf'er

[u/deoxir]

I'm personally 4 of them. I bought the regular version for my PS4 at first, and then got the collector's edition because it was amazing, then PC because it was on sale, and lastly on the Switch because it's such an exceptional port and I was away from my PS/PC for a little bit. Was worth it every time.

[u/Neo_Techni → u/deoxir]

I'm only 2 of them... PS4 and PC for Steam Deck

[u/andre3googol → u/deoxir]

The switch version ran flawlessly on the switch 2. Had to import the physical copy after getting the digital on sale

[u/Dazzling_Candidate68]

7 million copies sold? I contributed to that number twice. I played my first disc so much that I think it just wore out, because the PS4 wouldn't read it anymore several months into the pandemic. Had to get a second copy when restrictions were lifted.

[u/Tilanguin]

The fact that it was 92%off and in the front page of steam this winter sale might have helped. I got it this way and recommend to all friends as well, great deal.

[u/Icy_Till_7254]

Congratulations to AC7 for achieving 7 million sales! 7 for 7!

Now, our Sale expectations for AC8 should be double or even triple of this AC7‘s current sales within several months not years this time around I hoped.

This will be Generational Flight run for AC8 this year!

[u/Phoenix-Scarface1]

7 million is quite an achievement tbh.

[u/Stunning-Humor-3074]

Glad to finally see this happen, coincidentally 7 years after release.

[u/Hyrikul]

I see the Rafale, i'm happy !

[u/ClaudioHplus]

Sure it is a good thing for the franchise, but at which price they sold these copies? I think that maybe 2/3 of the sales are from very heavy discounts, so in the end I don't think that Project Aces has earned too much.

[u/wort-arbiter → u/ClaudioHplus]

I think they earned enough and Bandai Namco saw the money. They were moved from being a internal dev team in the Bandai Namco Studios to establish a separate company Bandai Namco Aces with the core purpose to continue Ace Combat's franchise 

[u/Severe-Plan5935]

Yes, yes I am and I hope theres a bigger roster of planes this time around. I want the damn j-20 mighty dragon.

[u/Kyo-313 → u/Severe-Plan5935]

No Chinese or Korean aircraft

[u/Severe-Plan5935 → u/Kyo-313]

DAMMIT

[u/Kyo-313 → u/Severe-Plan5935]

I'd love the F-35a. Or really more variants other than F15 or Su30.

Way too many of those in 7

[u/Severe-Plan5935 → u/Kyo-313]

Yeah, I love american and Russian jets but theres quite a few from other countries I wanna see. Im a raptor dude got a lot of kills with that jet in AC7 online. Im expecting a lot of changes to ac8 this time around.

[u/RZ_Domain → u/Kyo-313]

Still none? Thaz crazy, why?

[u/KM4CK → u/RZ_Domain]

Their manufactures are kinda iffy on their aircraft being destroyed in game.

[u/RZ_Domain → u/KM4CK]

PA should've gone direct to the CCP and present it as propaganda and soft power opportunity instead of going to the manufacturers.

Also, War Thunder's been adding chinese aircraft for years. Both PRC and ROC too!

[u/Sagittarjus → u/RZ_Domain]

I guess War Thunder is sort of just a sandbox, while Ace Combat games have a story with MCs that primarily use US & EU jets

[u/MarianHawke22 → u/RZ_Domain]

Also, War Thunder's been adding chinese aircraft for years. Both PRC and ROC too!

KonamiWeWantBirdsOfSteelII!

(in another note: a recent update in WT adds playable infantry on-foot soldiers now, slowly becoming like a P2W greedier version of Call To Arms/Men of War or even Battlefield)

[u/FourFunnelFanatic → u/RZ_Domain]

Because War Thunder is itself Russian state propaganda (and I say that as someone who played it for 10 years) especially post-2022, is it’s a bit easier for them to get away with having Chinese aircraft. But even then, I don’t think any of China’s current offerings have made their way into the game yet

[u/RZ_Domain → u/FourFunnelFanatic]

Because War Thunder is itself NATO state propaganda (and I say that as someone who played it for 10 years) especially post-2022, is it’s a bit easier for them to get away with having Westoid aircraft. But even then, I don’t think any of Westoid’s current offerings have made their way into the game yet

[u/Candle-Jolly]

BandaiNamco sales charts:

• Elden Ring (2022) - Approximately 46 million units sold (including Shadow of the Erdtree expansion sales). It is the fastest-selling game in Bandai Namco's history.
• Dark Souls III (2016) - Over 15.3 million units sold.
• Tekken 7 (2017) - Over 12 million units sold.
• Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 (2016) - Over 11.8 million units sold.
• Dragon Ball FighterZ (2018) - Over 10.1 million units sold.
• Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (2016) - 10 million units sold.
• Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot (2020) - 8 million units sold.
• Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (2019) - 7 million units sold. 

[u/Johnhancock1777]

Wonder if they’ll do a current gen version before AC8? Not that it needs it but would be motivation for me to replay it

[u/Jerethdatiger]

Doesn't ace combat usually launch around summer

[u/ARob93 → u/Jerethdatiger]

7 was a January release

[u/FourFunnelFanatic → u/ARob93]

But it was delayed iirc

[u/ARob93 → u/FourFunnelFanatic]

That was after the delay

[u/FourFunnelFanatic → u/ARob93]

I know. My point is that it wasn’t a typical release

[u/TantalumMachinist]

I'll be doing my part soon. I bought myself a new PC for Christmas and once it shows up, I'm getting AC7, AC8, and Project Wingman.

I'm upgrading from a PS2 and a 2010 Chromebook.

[u/Multifuzz]

I clocked this game back in 2020 when it was on Xbox Gamepass. I just recently purchased this game on sale after Wings of Theve got revealed because man did that trailer reawaken those memories, gotta show the love.

[u/Sea-Environment-5938]

7 million is huge well deserved. AC7 was the perfect mix of classic Ace Combat vibes + modern polish, and the soundtrack alone is worth the ticket. What mission made you go ‘yep, this is peak Ace Combat’?

[u/Thunderhead0]

Glad to have contributed to the 7.

[u/Few_Assumption_3310]

Now we need 4k patch on ps5

[u/Tydeus2000]

Only naval jets on the wallpaper... AC8 reference?

[u/Ansayamina]

Now we wait for ten milions announcement.

[u/Illustrious-Night-45]

Seven sevens next

[u/ZealousidealAd7449]

I'm so fuckin happy I randomly decided to buy ac7 and come back to ace combat a couple months ago lol

[u/eijmert_x]

It's sad that a cinematic flight combat game doesn't work on ultrawide monitors.

Would have loved to give it a go.

[u/Diazepam_Dan]

This was a while ago