Virtual Reality

Aces of Thunder: Everything You Should Know

Published March 11, 2023

Updated September 13, 2026

Jord Tury

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Aces of Thunder puts high-fidelity combat aircraft into dogfights that work on a monitor or through an optional VR headset. The emphasis is on cockpit immersion, aircraft handling, and getting a clean firing solution in three-dimensional space.

Aces of Thunder at a Glance

Status: Released
Release date: Feb 3, 2026
Developer: Gaijin Entertainment
Publisher: Gaijin Network Ltd
Genres: Action, Simulation
Steam platforms: Windows
Modes: Single-player, online pvp.
Controls: Partial controller support.

Storyline and Setting

Aces of Thunder is built around historical air combat rather than a character-led campaign. Its roster includes more than twenty World War I and II aircraft—such as the P-51, Bf 109, Spitfire, Zero, Fokker Dr.I and SPAD S.XIII—across fifteen maps covering Western, Eastern, Pacific and Great War fronts.

Gameplay and Core Systems

Single-player content lets pilots learn aircraft and engagements, while online PvP provides the real test against human opponents. OpenXR support makes VR optional rather than mandatory, and partial controller support means serious players should check their preferred flight-stick or control setup.

Every flight uses cockpit view and a physics and damage model derived from War Thunder. Players can learn aircraft in single-player missions or fight human pilots online. OpenXR VR is optional, not required; interactive virtual controls coexist with hardware HOTAS rigs and gamepads. Broadband is required for multiplayer, and partial controller support makes checking a specific flight-stick profile sensible. Aircraft packs are sold separately alongside the base roster.

Art, Audio, and Atmosphere

Detailed cockpits, aircraft models, clouds, and terrain are built to communicate scale at high speed, whether viewed on a monitor or inside a headset. Engine noise, gunfire, and spatial awareness matter because visual contact can be brief. VR adds physical presence rather than a separate game mode, while the non-VR view retains the same flight and combat simulation.

Campaign, Progression, and Replayability

Aircraft unlocks and improving pilot skill provide the long-term pull, while individual sorties focus on spotting, positioning, energy management, and accurate gunnery. Solo play offers a place to learn the machines and scenarios before fighting human pilots online. VR is supported through OpenXR but is optional, so a monitor setup is valid. Because Steam lists only partial controller support, flight-stick, throttle, gamepad, and keyboard users should expect to configure controls rather than assume a universal preset.

Steam currently lists 35 achievements. Steam currently lists 5 add-on entries for this app.

Multiplayer, VR, and Controller Support

Modes: Single-player, online pvp. Controls: Partial controller support.

Release and Current Availability

Aces of Thunder was released on Feb 3, 2026 by Gaijin Entertainment, with Gaijin Network Ltd publishing. Its current PC edition is listed on Steam for Windows.

Languages and Accessibility

Steam-listed language support: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish – Spain, Russian, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese – Brazil, Portuguese – Portugal, Simplified Chinese

Steam-listed accessibility and presentation features: No specific accessibility feature labels are currently supplied on the Steam listing.

PC System Requirements

Minimum

OS: Windows 10 19H2 (64bit)
Processor: Core i7-8700 / Ryzen 5 3600, equivalent or better
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia RTX 2060 / AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT, equivalent or better
DirectX: Version 12
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 20 GB available space
VR Support: OpenXR
Additional Notes: VR headset optional

Who Should Play Aces of Thunder?

It is aimed at combat-flight enthusiasts who want more simulation weight than an arcade shooter and have hardware capable of driving detailed aerial scenes.