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Ace Combat: Hour Zero

PR Campaign
Thursday 10th September, 2026

Bandai Namco paired the launch of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve with Hour Zero, a live-action prequel series starring Josh Holloway, Brandon Routh and Tamlyn Tomita. The cinematic series gives the game’s fictional war a human backstory, while Holloway’s candid “Top Gun mode” interview helped turn the tie-in into entertainment coverage.

Why it worked: It hijacked entertainment desks with a celebrity-led, live‑action prequel timed before launch—turning a game beat into film/TV news via an exclusive interview.

The lesson: Consider packaging your launch with a short, star-fronted narrative drop and offer exclusives that reframe your product as entertainment, not marketing.

Bandai Namco Entertainment Ace Combat
12 Sources:

Coverage over time

How this story spread across the media

Publication Headline Date
collider.com Josh Holloway Officially Enters "'Top Gun' Mode" for His High-Flying 'Ace Combat 8' Live-Action Prequel Series [Exclusive] Thursday 10th September, 2026
techtimes.com Ace Combat 8 Live-Action Prequel Hour Zero Stars Josh Holloway as Stranded Pilot Thursday 10th September, 2026
tierragamer.com Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve presenta su precuela Live Action antes del lanzamiento | TierraGamer: noticias y entretenimiento de anime, series, videojuegos y tecnología Thursday 10th September, 2026
gamingbolt.com Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Teases HOUR ZERO, A Star-Studded Live-Action Prequel Series Friday 11th September, 2026
bleedingcool.com Josh Holloway & Brandon Routh Star In Ace Combat 8 Prequel Friday 11th September, 2026
simulationdaily.com Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Live-Action Prequel Short Film Hour Zero Announced Friday 11th September, 2026
variety.com ‘Ace Combat 8’ Live-Action Prequel Star Josh Holloway on Revealing Four-Episode ‘Hour Zero’ Story Behind Bandai Namco Franchise’s New Game Tuesday 15th September, 2026
simulationdaily.com Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Hour Zero Episode 1 Sets the Stage for an Epic Story - Simulation Daily Wednesday 16th September, 2026
movieweb.com 'Lost' Icon Josh Holloway Leads New 'Top Gun'-Esque 4-Part Video Game Adaptation on Streaming Wednesday 16th September, 2026
simulationdaily.com Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Hour Zero Episode 2 Shows the Tragedy of War - Simulation Daily Thursday 17th September, 2026
simulationdaily.com Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Hour Zero Episode 3 Is Dramatic and Mysterious - Simulation Daily Wednesday 23rd September, 2026
animenewsnetwork.com Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Game Gets 4-Episode Live-Action Prequel Series - News - Anime News Network Saturday 26th September, 2026
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Every day, brands launch PR campaigns and the media covers them. We scan lots of different news sources and use AI to spot the campaigns behind the stories, and show you which ones are getting the most traction right now. Think of it as a live leaderboard of what's working in PR.

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