Originally launching nearly five years after Ace Combat: Infinity and four years after the 3DS release Assault Horizon Legacy+, 2019's Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown was the first game in the mainline series for over a decade and brought the series back to Strangereal, the franchise's fictionalised Earth stand-in.
Now, five years further on, Bandai Namco is bringing Skies Unknown to Switch in Deluxe Edition form. The Assault Horizon entries on 3DS familiarised Nintendo players with the series' arcade-style flighter combat, but we're very happy to see this particular entry land unexpectedly on Switch — and perhaps a little trepidatious about how this port will hold up on the hybrid system.
We'll be jumping into the cockpit to work on our review as soon as possible, but in the meantime, we were recently able to ask the game's producer Ryunosuke Hagiwara some quick questions about this Switch port...
Nintendo Life: News of the Switch "successor" is on everyone's radar at the moment, and it's been a while since an Ace Combat game released on a Nintendo platform. We're very happy to see it return, but our first question is: Why greenlight this Switch port at this time?
Ryunosuke Hagiwara, Producer: The development of this Switch version started in 2022, before information about its successor was available. When we conducted a survey of Ace Combat users around the world, we found that there were players who were interested in Ace Combat but could not play it because they did not own a gaming console.
Therefore, we decided to release a Switch version of the latest title in the series so that more people can enjoy it.
For Switch gamers who perhaps aren't familiar with the series and its storied history, could you tell us what you think sets Ace Combat apart from other combat and flight-sim games?
The Ace Combat series is a series of flight shooting games in which the player becomes an ace pilot, flying freely in 360 degrees in a graphic space that pursues a realistic view of the sky. Enjoy the experience of becoming a hero and saving the world by controlling a fighter jet with casual controls that are different from those found in flight simulators.
Switch is already home to some impressive "impossible ports", but there are also plenty that fall short. What were the biggest challenges in bringing the full Ace Combat experience to Nintendo’s hardware?
The realistic cloud rendering of ACE7 could not be reproduced on the Switch during the verification phase. [However], we were able to reach the quality of the production version after a long period of trial and error to ensure the frame rate without compromising the gameplay.
What frame rate are you targeting on Switch?
30fps (variable).
Ace Combat 7 was the first game in the series to feature volumetric clouds, real-time condensation, and icing on the plane. Did these features make the jump to the Switch? If so, were they difficult to implement?
Ace Combat 7 featured realistic representations of clouds and weather affecting the game in real time. After much trial and error, we succeeded [in porting] the game on Switch so that players can enjoy the same realistic weather expressions and volume that were reproduced in the original version.
It would not be a proper Ace Combat game without a deep, complex plot in Strangereal. Can you talk a little about how you approach developing the story for a game like this? Also, can we expect a 1:1 single-player content experience on Switch compared to the 2019 version?
When considering the storyline, it is important to portray each product as an independent story so that players who are new to the series can enjoy it even if they have not played the previous titles. However, we believe that the appeal of the series lies in the fact that, while independent as stories, each story can be seen as an event in the common world of "Strangereal" and feel connected to each other.
In order to achieve this contradictory setting, we held many discussions with staff members who have been involved in the development of the series for a long time, designed the stage with great precision, and spent a long time creating the story together with Director Sunao Katabuchi, who is in charge of the script.
We noticed the trailer had no mention of the Top Gun: Maverick DLC including the Darkstar prototype. Should Switch owners scratch “the need for speed” off the pre-flight check? Is all the other previously released DLC campaign content included?
Due to the popularity of the Top Gun: Maverick Aircraft set with players around the world, we are pleased to announce that the Top Gun: Maverick Aircraft set will be available for Switch too, it will be sold separately. We hope you will enjoy the Top Gun experience on Switch.
Online multiplayer was an enjoyable experience with the right group of friends within the original AC7 release. Did it survive the transition or is the Switch version strictly a single-seat affair?
This Switch version supports the same online multiplayer mode just like in the original version. We hope you will compete with other ace pilots from around the world and aim to become the world's strongest. Online play requires an Internet connection and a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. However, note that the multiplayer mode does not support cross-platform play.
Is there anything you'd like to add which our questions haven't touched on?
This edition of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown for Nintendo Switch will be a luxury edition that includes the main game, three original aircraft sets, plus three SP missions and other content. Enjoy the thrilling dogfight experience in the sky on your Nintendo Switch, in the comfort of your room or outside!
Finally, what games have you been enjoying in your spare time recently — on Switch or elsewhere?
I am a member of the Ace Combat team, so I play other companies' AAA titles every day as a gamer, even if I say it is for reference purposes.
Recently, I got hooked on Rise of the Ronin. I enjoyed the thrill of meeting real historical figures in an open-world setting of the Bakumatsu period, and the thrill of using swordplay action to cut down enemies, partly because I am a Bakumatsu fan.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity. Our thanks to Ryunosuke Hagiwara, and to Claire at Bastion for setting this up.
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition is out today on Switch — we'll have our review with you as soon as we're able.
Comments 47
This is very promising! Hoping we'll get a Ridge Racer port.
Amazing Port, for real this game looks so cool on switch
Only fighter jet game I ever played was Aerofighters Assault on the N64. Apparently thought of as a really mediocre game, but I loved it as a kid.
Know nothing about this franchise and if it's also more arcade style or what, but I'm tempted to give it a try as it does look like a great port ^_^
Great interview as always, happy for those interested that it's coming also to Switch - even more so since it sounds quite promising based on this - and who knows, maybe at some point I might give it a try myself (although not anytime soon since other games have a higher priority for me)!
@NinjaSyao It is more arcade than sim. Starts off kinda realistic, but then veers into science fiction.
This is making me nostalgic. Flight games used to be much more popular in the late 80s and early 90s. We had Afterburner in the arcades and the Microprose flight sims on PC.
“Smoke me a kipper”
…you mean “Stroke me a clipper”, surely!
Looking forward to playing this. The 3DS entry featured Mario bros skins for planes accessed using amiibo. It doesn’t sound like that’s included with this game. It would be quite comical to see a Bowser style decal applied to a jet in this realistic setting.
With life having been so busy I totally forgot about this release. Ordered my copy yesterday, hopefully arrives by tomorrow.
Played the PS4 version to bits so interesting to see how this holds up.
Honestly I had hoped Project Aces’ first Switch AC would be a remake of AC3 in the same vein as AC:AHL was a remake of AC2; but this is still nice.
Great release for Switch as it's the first major flight game on the console after 7 years.
I already own it physical for Xbox, and i also own it on Steam. Not gonna buy it a third time.
gonna have to wait and see how variable that 30 FPS is before deciding if I want to pick this up
Looks interesting. I just hope the cutscenes are skippable. Obviously would need to be physical also.
So basically, no features were cut. You don't hear that often about Switch ports. Well done to the development team.
Waiting on reviews but would love this game on the go.
Ah, man. This trailer brings back memories of playing Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception on PSP. REAALY good times 😁
I still can't believe this runs as good as it does. Review as soon as humanly possible.
I had this on pc since release but I love supporting this kind of work with such ports to the Switch and just may have to double dip and get this and replay it.
It was an ok game. Started off good when you were taking out jets and ground units but became annoying when the sci fi side of things came in to play and you were just flooded with those unmanned drones etc.
@spacely_sprockets just got my copy and can confirm they are
That was in an SP mission, not campaign mind you - I imagine campaign is also
Something that is a big win for me, is that the full game is on cartridge by the looks of it, no download was required when i started it up. I was worried it might have GB's worth to download, the dreaded 'Internet Download Required' message on front of the box.
@Tayrailbridge Totally agree on that, Switch NEEDS Ridge Racer! Even a collection of the originals would be awesome (especially Type 4). New RR for Switch 2 launch anyone?
I've long said Switch would be such a better system with Ace Combat, Ridge Racer, and Tekken games in the library, so I'm more than pleased at this development!
As the classic Meat Loaf song goes,
🎶 "One out of three ain't good...
but this late in the Switch's lifecycle,
I'm used to looking for silver linings,
and I will take what I can get..." 🎶
The vids on YT are looking good and promising.
I will wait for the review but might get it very soon!
I had a ton of fun with the one that hit Wii, so I'm looking forward to this. Hopefully the FPS rate isn't too great an enjoyment hindrance.
@rainbowtick I think you're confusing this with "Heatseeker".
@Shiryu
Oh, dangit. You're right. I was confusing it with another game, Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces. That was a fun game!
I had tons of fun with this on PS4 a few years ago, so I hope it holds up well for those who can only play it on Switch. Fantastic game.
@Falien ...I'll be back for breakfast!
Got mine in the mail today. I'll take off tonight.
Just saw some gameplay. Looks surprisingly similar to the current gen versions! The game is not my thing but I kinda wish it was cuz this'd be a great way to send off the switch's lifecycle.
Damn this is exciting. Just like sucks that it's $60 for the "deluxe edition" but they're selling like $100 of dlc separately.......
@-wc- ha I love the late, great Meat Loaf so that made me laugh!
@AmplifyMJ
he was a special one, and he is missed.
always good to hear from you ✌️
Loving the Red Dwarf S7E2 references
Wish there was a physical version.
$60 for a 5 year old game plus a ton of paid DLC at launch. Namco is nuts
going to import a physical copy tired of devs being lazy.
@rainbowtick which just happens to be my favourite "Ace Combat" spin-off. The movie was really depressing but the game not only acts as a prequel/origin story but has some awesome missions and airplanes.
@Serpenterror I don't know what going on over there, but the game received a physical edition in Europe and the cartridge really has the whole game in it.
“ 30fps (variable)”
Ace Combat in portable mode! Mine
ttldr...is there a physical edition?
Definitely going to get this once it drops to a reasonable price.
@RaptorRed Amen! R4 is the high standard for racing games.
I’ll wait on the review but this has potential.
Own PS4 version and bought on Switch as well for portability. The game looks excellent for a Switch game and no feature is missing here.
Frame rate has been solid, I’ve had 0 issues with it.
Only thing that bothers me is that it is a full priced deluxe title and you still have to pay for the dlc. They are by all means not necessary, but still disappointing.
Hands down best aviation title on the Switch.
@Falien
Opened the news just for this one!
Great to see a fellow Dwarfer!
Tap here to load 47 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...