Kazutoki Kono Reveals Why Kate Evans Became One of Ace Combat 8’s Most Popular Characters

For more than three decades, the Ace Combat franchise has occupied a unique position in gaming. It isn’t a hardcore flight simulator, nor is it a pure arcade shooter. Instead, it has carved out its own identity by blending accessible aerial combat with memorable storytelling, larger-than-life set pieces, and an emotional core that often rises above its military setting.

Speaking during gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show 2026, Kazutoki Kono, longtime Brand Director of the Ace Combat series, reflected on the franchise’s evolution, the lessons learned from past entries, and how Ace Combat 8 continues to push the series forward without losing sight of what made it special in the first place.

Staying True to the Core While Evolving the Experience

According to Kono, the series’ fundamental flight mechanics have remained remarkably consistent since its origins as the arcade title Air Combat 22. While the technology and presentation have evolved significantly over the years, the essence of piloting a fighter jet and experiencing high-speed aerial combat remains largely unchanged.

What has changed, however, is everything surrounding that experience.

Rather than reinventing how aircraft behave, Project Aces has focused on enhancing the environments players fly through, the stories they experience, and the ways in which they interact with missions. Kono explained that while fighter jets themselves haven’t fundamentally changed as a concept, the world around them has, creating opportunities to deepen immersion without abandoning the arcade-inspired roots that fans have embraced for decades.

Revisiting a Controversial Feature

One of the more interesting discussions centered around Dogfight Mode, a mechanic first introduced in Ace Combat: Assault Horizon that divided the community.

Kono acknowledged that the feature remains controversial, with some players appreciating its cinematic intensity while others felt it strayed too far from traditional Ace Combat gameplay. Rather than dismissing the concept entirely, the team carefully analyzed both its strengths and weaknesses.

The result was a more measured approach in Ace Combat 8. Instead of making Dogfight Mode a dominant gameplay pillar, the team now deploys it selectively in moments where it best serves the story and gameplay experience. Kono noted that the developers now have a clear understanding of where the mechanic works and where it doesn’t, allowing them to use it with greater purpose.

How Kate Evans Became a Fan Favorite

Few characters in recent Ace Combat memory have resonated with fans quite like Kate Evans.

Interestingly, Kono revealed that he was already fond of the character before launch. Unlike Tasha, whose striking visual design immediately captures attention, Kate was intentionally designed to grow on players over time.

“And for Tasha, I understand that she is iconic. She’s very eye-catching. Once our players see Tasha, they are going to remember.”

Her popularity wasn’t built on a memorable first impression but rather on the progression of her story in Ace Combat 8. As players advanced through the campaign, her character development and involvement in key dramatic moments gradually earned the community’s affection. Kono expressed particular happiness at seeing fans embrace both Kate and Tasha through social media discussions and cosplay, something relatively uncommon for the franchise in the past.

But for Kate, it goes the opposite way, so the first impression of Kate is not that very impactful. During the story, she keeps growing within the hearts of the fans. And that’s how Kate became popular.”

A More Personal Perspective

Ace Combat 8 also introduced a shift in how story sequences are presented, moving certain narrative moments into a first-person perspective rather than relying exclusively on traditional cutscenes.

For Kono, this change was closely tied to one of the franchise’s core pillars: allowing players to feel like genuine ace pilots in Ace Combat 8. The team wanted players to experience not just the thrill of victory in the cockpit, but also the sense of standing alongside allies and comrades who recognize their achievements.

The first-person approach ins Ace Combat 8 helps strengthen that connection, making players feel more directly involved in the world around them. Beyond increasing immersion, it reinforces the fantasy of becoming a celebrated hero within the game’s narrative.

Giving Players More Freedom in Combat

Among the biggest gameplay additions in Ace Combat 8 is the ability to equip two special weapons simultaneously, a feature long requested by fans.

Kono explained that the objective wasn’t simply to make players more powerful. Instead, the dual-special-weapon system was designed to offer greater tactical freedom. Players can now tailor their aircraft loadouts for different situations, such as combining air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities within the same mission.

Maintaining balance was naturally a concern for Ace Combat 8, but Kono emphasized that player freedom was prioritized from the beginning. Rather than limiting player options, the team focused on carefully constructing mission design, level layouts, story pacing, and radio chatter to ensure encounters remained engaging regardless of loadout choices.

He even shared an amusing development anecdote: one mission took him two days to complete through conventional methods, only for another approach involving high-altitude bombing to potentially finish it in minutes. Moments like these reinforce the team’s desire to let players discover their own solutions rather than forcing a single intended strategy.

Building an Online Community of Pilots

While the campaign remains central to Ace Combat’s identity, Project Aces is also investing heavily in online experiences.

The newly introduced online lobby serves as a gathering space where pilots from around the world can meet in a shared environment. Kono described it as an evolving platform that will continue growing alongside its player base

The team is currently monitoring player feedback and gameplay data across multiple modes, including PvP, co-op, and PvE activities. Drawing lessons from previous online projects such as Ace Combat Infinity, the developers hope to refine the experience based on both historical knowledge and ongoing community feedback.

Inspiration from Top Gun and Beyond

When asked about cinematic influences for Ace Combat 8, Kono’s immediate recommendation was simple: watch Top Gun: Maverick.

However, he noted that inspiration comes from a wide variety of international films and television dramas. Some narrative ideas have even drawn influence from Korean dramas, though he jokingly suggested that particular detail should remain a secret.

The blend of global entertainment influences reflects one of Ace Combat’s greatest strengths: its ability to combine military action with character-focused storytelling and larger-than-life spectacle.

The Open World Idea That Never Took Off

One of the more revealing moments of the Ace Combat 8 discussion came when Kono addressed hypothetical future innovations.

Rather than spending unlimited resources on making aircraft increasingly detailed, he believes that a bigger opportunity lies in enhancing the environments surrounding them. More specifically, he wants to continue expanding player freedom in how missions can be completed.

Kono also revealed that he once considered transforming Ace Combat into an open-world game. The concept ultimately fell apart after he imagined the practical realities of fighter jet travel.

In his humorous example, a player might finish one engagement only to spend two real-world hours flying to the next destination. While realistic, it would also be incredibly boring. That realization convinced him that the traditional mission-based structure remains a better fit for the franchise.

Instead, the future lies in expanding strategic options within carefully designed missions rather than creating a fully open world.

Why Hope Remains Central to Ace Combat

Despite its focus on war, loss, and sacrifice, Ace Combat has always maintained an optimistic outlook.

Kono credited much of that philosophy to the series’ animation directors and narrative collaborators. About two decades ago, he was reminded that if the team was going to use war as the backdrop for entertainment, they had a responsibility to present hope as an essential counterbalance.

That message continues to shape the series today.

While one side of a conflict may view the player’s ace pilot as a symbol of hope, opponents may see the same figure as something terrifying. Kono believes that duality is an important part of Ace Combat’s storytelling, but ultimately, the series chooses to emphasize hope over despair.

Looking Back with Few Regrets

Considering the overwhelmingly positive reception to Ace Combat 8, Kono was asked what he would change if given the opportunity to start over.

His answer was surprisingly straightforward: not much. The development team is largely satisfied with what they achieved, particularly with the campaign of Ace Combat 8. While there are always opportunities to improve production efficiency and polish, Kono said the core concept would remain exactly the same

If anything, his biggest wish was less about redesigning the game and more about making development a little easier on the team responsible for creating it.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is now available on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.