Bandai Namco has converted the Steam port of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War into a standalone application and added Steam achievements for it. Players who have obtained the bonus eligibility no longer need to install the approximately 140GB base game of Ace Combat 8; they can now launch the game by downloading only about 3.2GB.
This version was originally a pre-order bonus for Ace Combat 8 and is no longer available for new claims; it is exclusively for users who have already obtained eligibility. Previously, it was provided as a separately launched DLC executable, requiring players to first install the base game and then enter from the base game's launch screen, which caused some inconvenience and confusion.
Bandai Namco stated on October 13 that it was conducting final quality and operational checks, and the release of this standalone application follows up on that matter. The publisher had also planned to share save data via Steam Cloud.
Due to factors such as fighter jet licensing, there are no plans to sell this port separately. The game features an "Ace Style" system, where players' choices to attack or spare targets during missions alter corresponding behavior metrics, which in turn affect radio communications and the enemy aces encountered.