The highly anticipated next installment in the Ace Combat franchise is nearly upon us. Set to release at some point in 2017, ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES UNKNOWN is ready to take to the air with players in tow. Being the 18th game in the series comes with having a lot to live up to, but it’s not without its perks. It is a well established franchise in the action combat flight simulator genre and people really seem to enjoy it. Obviously, or there probably wouldn’t be as many games in the franchise.

What started as an arcade game before making its way to the PlayStation, the Ace Combat franchise has been going strong since the early 90’s. Over the course of its life, the franchise has hopped from system to system. Some titles are Xbox exclusives, some are PlayStation exclusives. Others are only on handheld consoles, while others are solely available on smartphones. What makes players excited about ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES UNKNOWN is the fact that it is the first time in 4 years that an Ace Combat title will be playable on both an Xbox and PC. It will also be the first time in 6 years that a title in the franchise has been playable on both an Xbox and a PlayStation.

Breathtaking clouds coupled with highly detailed aircraft and photorealistic scenery makes this the most engaging Ace Combat to date.”

That’s right! ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES UNKNOWN will be available on both Xbox One and PS4, as well as PC. If you will be playing on the PlayStation 4, you’ll have the opportunity to use PS VR to enhance your experience with exclusive missions. According to the Ace Combat website, “VR missions made exclusively for the PlayStation VR provide unprecedented immersion.” No word if VR capability will be making its way to the PC, but we sure hope it does!

The New Years Showcase Trailer for Ace Combat 7: SKIES UNKNOWN, which was posted to Bandai Namco Entertainment America’s YouTube channel, truly shows how beautiful the game is. We get a sense of the dramatic plot the franchise is known for, as well as a good look at some of the dog fights players will be experiencing while flying high in the sky. Even in the two minute video, we feel the urgency of having to eliminate the threat. Take a look for yourself:

What do you think, gamers? Ready to take to the skies and protect Strangereal? Are you familiar with the Ace Combat franchise or will this be your first time checking out one of the 18 games? How many of you have played each of the previous 17 games? Let us know in the comments section below. In other PC and Xbox related news, cross-platform play is now available between Xbox One and PC for Gears of War 4. For more exciting news, be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter so you don’t miss out on what’s next!