Changes: Ace Combat Infinity

Revision as of 07:52, 10 February 2020

Ace Combat Infinity

General Information

Developers

Project Aces

Publishers

Bandai Namco Entertainment

Release Dates

^JP May 20, 2014
^NA May 27, 2014
^PAL May 28, 2014

Age Ratings
ESRB	PEGI	CERO	ACB

Main Credits

Director

Natsuki Isaki

Producer

Kazutoki Kono

Writer

Kosuke Itomi
Yuta Hamanaka

Ace Combat Infinity (エースコンバットインフィニティ Ēsu Konbatto Infiniti) was the 16th entry in the Ace Combat series. Infinity was the first free-to-play game in the series, with a heavy focus on online cooperative multiplayer missions. It was officially released in May 2014 exclusive to the PlayStation 3.

Infinity is the third Ace Combat game to explicitly take place within our universe rather than the Strangereal universe. However, the game's plot mirrors many elements of previous Strangereal-based games, especially Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies. The game also reused the same engine and many assets from Ace Combat: Assault Horizon.

Bandai Namco held three public betas prior to the game's launch. Despite mediocre critic reviews, Infinity has been very successful with fans, and remained online for three years. Its success is believed to be a contributing factor to the development of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.

On December 8, 2017, it was announced that Infinity would be shut down on March 31, 2018.^[1]

Portal

Basic Info

Multiplayer Modes

Game Mechanics

Plot

Combatants

United Nations
USEA Federation

Synopsis

Main article: Ulysses Disaster, Sons of Troia insurgency, USEAn War, or Operation Eternal Liberation

Ulysses Disaster 2 — News coverage of the Ulysses Disaster

In the late 1990s, a large group of meteors began to approach Earth. In order to defend the planet, the world's nations banded together to create six anti-air railgun networks, named Stonehenge, that would engage the meteors. Many meteors impacted the Earth, and while the Stonehenge networks prevented an extinction event, the loss of life and infrastructure was still devastating.^[2]

During the subsequent economic and societal chaos, a defense contractor, Wernher and Noah Enterprises, stepped in to assist the world's nations in rebuilding. Refugee zones were set up, and over the 20 years since the Ulysses Disaster, Wernher Noah made advancements in producing aircraft, opening the doors for many pilots to become mercenaries.^[3] The player, Reaper, is one of these mercenary pilots who joins the private military corporation Arrows Air Defense and Security (under United Nations command) in 2019. Reaper is assigned to the Bone Arrow Squadron.^[2]

Kacper Cohen, the lead weapons developer at Wernher Noah, becomes disillusioned with the United Nations and their handling of world affairs and begins attacking UN forces with the assistance of the terrorist organization, the Sons of Troia.^[4] Reaper, who is unaware of Cohen's role, joins fellow Bone Arrow pilot Omega in shutting down a UAV attack in Tokyo.^[2] They then join Bone Arrow leader Viper and fellow pilot Bronco in investigating a lead at a rocket launch facility in the West Indies,^[3] followed by rescuing top executives kidnapped by the terrorists, where they are joined by the United Nations Forces and the elite Ridgeback Squadron. However, the rescue attempt goes awry when the executives are not found and the air units are fired upon by a nearby Stonehenge network that was hijacked by the terrorists.^[5]

Bone Arrow, the Ridgebacks, other UNF squadrons, and UNF ground forces are brought together in a joint operation with the aim of destroying the Stonehenge facility, where Reaper single-handedly destroys the entire network.^[6] Kacper Cohen then publicly announces his plan for a unified world without the UN, creates the USEA Federation, and launches a worldwide offensive against the organization. The Stonehenge strike team, including the Bone Arrows and Ridgebacks, perform a counter-offensive operation in Tokyo. They encounter a QFA-44, a UAV variant of the CFA-44 Nosferatu, supported by MQ-90L Quox bis units. The MQ-90Ls kill the leader of the Ridgebacks, Slash; Nagase, second-in-command, takes control of the squadron. Reaper shoots down the QFA-44. The remaining air units attack and destroy an Aigaion-class heavy command cruiser that launched the QFA-44, and Tokyo is liberated by the ground units.^[4]

Following these events, Viper retires from Bone Arrow, and Reaper and Nagase are promoted to the flight lead positions in their respective squadrons. The United Nations assimilates all of the world's well-known mercenaries, including Bone Arrow and Ridgeback, into Task Force 118 to defend against the USEA Federation and eventually shut it down.^[4] As part of this effort, Task Force 118 disables Avalon Dam, an ICBM launch facility^[7]; engages USEA squadrons and another QFA-44 in Area B7R in the United States^[8]; and performs a landing operation against USEA in the Adriatic Sea. Partway through the landing operation, the OLDS, a weapon that can redirect asteroids intended to keep Earth safe, attacks the UN forces with asteroids. The remaining units press on with the assault, eventually causing USEA to retreat and allowing the UN to establish a beachhead.^[9]

At this point, the plot is left on a cliffhanger. Players are given more details on the OLDS and the QFA-44 units (and their pilot, Camilla) in a cutscene following the final mission, but Kazutoki Kono has confirmed that there will be no further campaign missions.^[10]

Characters

Infinity portraits — From left to right: Viper, Goodfellow, Omega, Nagase

Reaper is the silent player character. He joins Bone Arrow Squadron as Bone Arrow 4, but following his accomplishments and Viper's retiring, he is promoted to Bone Arrow 1. His "Grim Reaper" emblem becomes an inspiration for UN forces and a fear tactic against USEA forces.
Viper is the flight lead of Bone Arrow Squadron through the first act of the game. He's a veteran worldwide mercenary; his emblem is that of a snake with its tail making an infinity symbol, signifying his innumerable kill count. He retires following the Tokyo counter-offensive.
Omega is the second pilot in Bone Arrow Squadron. He supports Reaper in many of their sorties, and flies as Reaper's second-in-command when he becomes the flight lead.
Goodfellow is the commander of Bone Arrow Squadron and their liaison to the Arrows company. The United Nations hires him as commander of Task Force 118 during their offensive against the USEA Federation.
Slash is the flight lead of Ridgeback Squadron. He sticks close to formation tactics, usually preventing the Ridgebacks from making reckless decisions on their own, and looks down upon the Bone Arrows. He is killed by an MQ-90L over Tokyo.
Nagase is Slash's second-in-command in Ridgeback Squadron. Following his death, she becomes the squadron's flight lead. She carries a vendetta against the QFA-44 for killing Slash, and refuses to let the Bone Arrows surpass her squadron.
AWACS Sky-Eye is the UN-affiliated AWACS unit supporting Ridgeback Squadron. Sky-Eye provides tactical support to Bone Arrow Squadron during their joint operations, and all UN units following Sky-Eye's assimilation into Task Force 118.
Kacper Cohen was the head of weapons development at Wernher Noah before he is kicked out of the company following his potential link to terrorist activities. He is the de facto leader of the USEA Federation.
Camilla, or the Butterfly Master, is a young woman who controls the QFA-44 and MQ-90L units from a low-orbit satellite developed under the mysterious Papillon Project. Few other details are available on this mysterious character.

References to past games

Infinity contains more references to past Ace Combat games than any Ace Combat game before it. Many elements from past games underwent a process known as retconning to embed them into the Infinity universe.

For a list of references to past games present in Infinity, see Ace Combat Infinity/References.

Gameplay

F-18F Infinity Cockpit 1 — Cockpit of an F/A-18F Super Hornet

The gameplay of Infinity is noted for staying true to the "classic gameplay" of the Ace Combat series, most notably Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies. Close Range Assault, an integral component of gameplay in Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, is not included in Infinity - otherwise, the game utilizes the same engine as Assault Horizon with minor modifications specific to Infinity. These include the following:

The targeting boxes for an enemy gets larger as the distance between the player and that enemy decreases, and vice versa. This feature was only previously seen in Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere.^[11]
All enemy units feature a health bar underneath their targeting box. This was a feature notable on Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, but Infinity moved the health bar from the top-left of the HUD to directly underneath the enemy targeting box. Additionally, a red line perpendicular to this bar indicates how much damage the currently-equipped weapon will perform on that enemy unit.
Tactical Datalink is a new feature that builds on the Friendly Assist System of Assault Horizon. When the player flies close to a friendly aircraft that they are linked to, their aircraft's performance is boosted. The exact boost is selected while editing an Aircraft Settings (see below). This also functions in single-player as well as multiplayer. The targeting box for the closest friendly unit to the player, when Datalink is idle and ready, will indicate how much closer the player needs to be to that ally to initiate the Datalink.
The head-up display shows the traditional radar and aircraft info (ammo, health, reloading) along the bottom of the screen; allotted score, remaining time, and the score of the targeted enemy are located on the top-left of the screen; and any checkpoints are noted in the top-right of the screen as they are encountered.
Oil and shrapnel will splatter on the screen when an enemy close to the player's aircraft is destroyed, similar to Assault Horizon.

Axsxa — An A-10A Thunderbolt II attacking Stonehenge Type-3

Superweapons and original aircraft appear multiple times throughout Infinity, in both multiplayer and single-player. The superweapons include the Aigaion-class heavy command cruiser, the Scinfaxi-class submarine, and the Stonehenge railgun network, while the original aircraft include the QFA-44 Camilla and the ADFX-01 Morgan.

Multiplayer

Ace Combat Infinity features a multiplayer experience alongside the single-player story campaign. Online Co-Op Missions is the primary new mode of the game, which is a 'competitive co-operative' experience where "skilled aces will form two teams and compete to inflict the most damage on a common enemy."^[12] Playing multiplayer allows the player to earn experience towards further aircraft and parts through a technology tree, where further tech on the tree must be unlocked by purchasing prerequisite technologies.

About halfway through most multiplayer missions, players will experience an emergency mission update that will interrupt their current objective and direct them to a new one. After this emergency objective is taken care of, the original mission will continue. The specifics of the update are random and range from engaging transport fleets to fighting a Scinfaxi-class submarine.

Customization

Main article: Aircraft Tree, Tuning, or Ace Combat Infinity/Parts

In a first for the series, Infinity allows players to customize and set up to four different Aircraft Sets, which include the aircraft, special weapons, aircraft parts, Tactical Datalink effect, and emblems that the player will be flying with during that sortie. Aircraft Sets can be selected in all gameplay modes, but Campaign mode provides free "Rental Sets" for each mission, intended for new players.

Similar to Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception, Ace Combat: Joint Assault, and Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy, Infinity also has a tuning system which, after unlocking an aircraft, allows the player to upgrade that aircraft through the Aircraft Tree. Players can tweak their aircraft by swapping out and upgrading their aircraft's armor, missile power, gun damage, engine power, power of certain weapons, and more. Further aircraft and parts on the tree can only be unlocked if all of the aircraft and parts that show up previously on the same branch are unlocked and purchased.

The player can also customize the plane's color scheme from a limited set of colors, which can be earned through various means such as random drops, challenges, and ranking tournaments.

Emblems can be applied to the tail, wing, and nose. Some emblems features special effects, such as unique MVP music themes or colored missile smoke. Emblems can be earned through various means such as random drops, challenges, and ranking tournaments.

Sortie Fuel

Main article: Sortie Fuel

When booting up Infinity for the very first time, players will start with 3 Supplied Fuel and 0 Stocked Fuel. Supplied Fuel replenishes at a rate of 1 unit every four hours at no cost, while Stocked Fuel is purchased for real-life money from the PlayStation Store or earned through some other means. It is not possible to have more than 3 Supplied Fuel, but Stocked Fuel is unlimited. Players will have to choose one of the two fuel sources when playing a co-op mission or a single-player mission.

Immediately after the announcement of this system, fans online expressed a distrust in the game and believed it would end up becoming a "pay-to-play" experience. The developers urged the players to keep their minds open and hold their judgments until the beta test began to provide constructive feedback.^[13] After compiling the feedback from the Japanese beta, Mr. Kono acknowledged that they would consider modifying the fuel system in some way.^[14] The game has been modified with a Challenges system to allow players to earn fuel for free.

Contracts

Main article: Contracts

Elite Mercenary Contract, one of two contracts available to the player

While playing Ace Combat Infinity, two separate "contracts" can be enabled. Each one, when activated, will last for 12 hours and award the player either extra credits for completing a mission or gaining extra research for the Aircraft Tree. Contracts can only be purchased through the PlayStation Store for real-life money or earned by completing challenges.

Aircraft

Main article: Ace Combat Infinity/Aircraft

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Soundtrack

Main article: Ace Combat Infinity & Series Music Best or Ace Combat Infinity/Soundtrack

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Development

Main article: Ace Combat Infinity/Development timeline

According to Kazutoki Kono, Ace Combat Infinity had been in development since early 2012^[13], immediately following the release of Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy and Ace Combat: Northern Wings. It was developed from the start to be a free-to-play game.

The original teaser image

The game was first teased on June 14, 2013, when Kono tweeted a photo of his Japanese passport and his laptop, which displayed a revised version of the Project Aces logo with what appeared to be several objects approaching the ground from the sky.^[15] Until September, Ace Combat fans would be constantly teased with images and videos giving information on the game little-by-little. By September, Project Aces had announced that Ace Combat Infinity was due to release in the Fall of 2013.^[16]

On September 19 at approximately 2 PM Tokyo local time, Namco Bandai began the free-to-play segment of their Tokyo Game Show 2013 event, including Ace Combat Infinity. Here, while First Flight and a remix of Comona played, Kazutoki Kono discussed the details about Infinity after showing the new "Ulysses Disaster" trailer. Later in the day, the video was uploaded to the official YouTube channel. The release date announcement was postponed, to allow for a beta test of the game before its official launch.^[17]

Beta testing phase

ACI JPBetaTitle — Japanese Beta title screen

On October 17, Project Aces announced that the public beta testing would take place between November 7 and November 13, would require 2GB of free HDD space on the PlayStation 3, and would be Japan-only.^[18] Regions outside of Japan would partake in a second test, which was to follow the Japanese test but had no confirmed date at that time.^[19]

The Japanese beta contained the following:

Test Flight, a tutorial mission for new players where players can partake in tutorial exercises
Lost Butterfly and Great Migration, the first two missions of the story campaign
Tokyo Martial Law, Pipeline Destruction, and Moby Dick Pursuit

The Sortie Fuel System, while active, was essentially irrelevant as the beta automatically granted players additional fuel. However, save data during the beta did not carry over to the game's full release.^[20] Players who signed up for the beta received a special "2013 Beta Test Pilot" emblem, which released simultaneously with the game.

Shut down

On November 8, one day after it began, the beta test was shut down to solve server issues that had been encountered. The largest problem was multiplayer missions terminating as soon as they started. The beta was expected to resume sometime near the beginning of the week of November 10,^[21] but by November 12 it was not up yet. Strangely enough, by November 12, fans began to notice that certain official Ace Combat Infinity media was being pulled from the internet. The Game Information Page was removed, and the official trailers from Namco Bandai's international YouTube account were made private. No word was provided from Project Aces on either Twitter or Facebook concerning these changes.

On November 13, the date the beta was originally planned to end, Project Aces tweeted an apology for the elongated maintenance period, and assured fans that a second beta test would commence soon to make up for the first one having been closed so long.^[22]

New beta and changes

On December 4, 2013, Project Aces reported through Twitter that a new beta would take place starting on December 12 and ending on December 18.^[23] The next day, they released a new trailer confirming the new beta date and indicating that the beta would, in fact, still be restricted to Japan.^[24] A second new trailer was released on December 9,^[25] and fans later made a comparison between this second trailer and images from past trailers. They confirmed that changes were made to the story cutscenes. For example, the red portion of the Sons of Troia logo is a much lighter hue of red, and the map of Iyuli does not show any of the other cities or region lines around it.^[26] The reason for these changes remains unknown.

Ace Combat Infinity Survey Wallpaper — Free wallpaper for completing a survey for the game

The beta was re-released (under the same file) a few minutes before 11:30 AM Tokyo time on December 12. Simultaneously, a mandatory patch was released for everyone, regardless if they already had the beta installed on their PS3. Besides the minor changes to cutscenes as mentioned above, very little was modified from the November beta and players were assured to still earn the 2013 Beta Test Pilot emblem. A few hours after its release, the New Title website completely changed to make it more of a "central hub" for news on the game. Of note is that a survey section was opened, asking beta participants for their opinions on the game, which awarded anyone who completed the survey an exclusive desktop wallpaper. The beta ran for a few hours longer than originally scheduled, and was closed on December 19. Later that same day, the release date was officially changed to 2014.^[27]

Worldwide beta

ACI BetaWorldwideTitle — Worldwide Beta title screen

On January 8, 2014, Kazutoki Kono confirmed to a fan through Twitter that a beta was still scheduled for western markets before the game was to release.^[28] On the 30th, simultaneously on the PlayStation Blog^[29] and Facebook^[30], Bandai Namco announced the dates for the worldwide beta (excluding Japan), which would begin on February 4 and conclude on February 11. An exclusive emblem for participating and the same wallpaper for providing feedback were confirmed to be a part of this beta as well. The content in the worldwide beta was exactly the same as that featured in the Japanese beta.

Official release

After the end of the betas, up until the end of April, Project Aces reported through Twitter and Facebook every so often that they were working on responding to the feedback and polishing the game as best as they could. On April 22, 2014, the Mission Notice Trailer was leaked early by Eurogamer; the trailer set the game's European release date as May 28, 2014, and showed off all of the missions in the game.^[31] The trailer was then uploaded to Bandai Namco's YouTube channel, which announced the Japanese release date as May 20, 2014.^[32] Additionally, Infinity was added to the PlayStation Store in Japan as a "pre-order" complete with two exclusive emblems and two exclusive nicknames. Joystiq later published an article using a press release from Bandai Namco confirming the North American release as May 27, and revealing that plans for a "Player vs. Player" mode was planned to be included with the game at some point.^[33]

Gallery

See the gallery for this article at Ace Combat Infinity/Gallery.

Trivia

In January 2015, the official Ace Combat Facebook page implied that the campaign would be expanded in the future^[34] but it has yet to be updated as of May 2017.
Camilla repeatedly hums the Mappy theme song, and Mappy himself appears as a silhouette on a pair of wireless headphones. Interestingly enough, Ace Combat Infinity was originally intended to be launched in 2013, which was the 30th anniversary of Mappy's release.
Infinity is running on the same (or an upgraded version of the) engine that Assault Horizon utilized, as evidenced by the oil splatters on the screen and the explosion effects.
The game continues the trend that began in Assault Horizon in regards to the depiction of experimental aircraft. Designs like the F-15 S/MTD, F-16XL, or PAK FA retain their test equipment. Extended antennas to gather flight data are faithfully modeled for a more accurate depiction of the planes. This is opposed to earlier games such, which incorporated a more "what-if" rendition.
September 19, the day the Ulysses Disaster trailer was revealed, has symbolic meaning to the series. Operations Umbrella and Autumn Thunder both took place on September 19, as well as Andrei Markov and AWACS SkyEye's birthday.
The Infinity symbol from the trailers bears a resemblance to the Mobius Squadron insignia, adding to the rest of the evidence that this game was heavily inspired by Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies.
Ace Combat Infinity appears to use similar, if not exact, squadron animations from Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, as seen in the trailers. For example, at the end of the Ulysses Disaster trailer, an aircraft squadron is seen separating formation in a very similar, if not exact, resemblance to how the Silber Team separated formation after making their entrance.
Additionally, the scene that shows the MVP in multiplayer uses camera angles and animations that are similar to the ones found at the end of the mission Pipeline from Ace Combat: Assault Horizon.
The Ulysses Disaster trailer also features a few hints to the COFFIN system:
- at the beginning, while loading the elements of the main menu, "establishment of neuromuscular connections" is mentioned as one of the things being loaded;
- as the Ulysses asteroid is being explained a few seconds later, the video zooms in on a hexagonal pattern very similar to the ADF-01 FALKEN's cockpit;
- "COFFIN IN/SYS" is visible in the top right (above an unlit "NORMAL" and a lit "ONLINE" indicator) before the video zooms in;
- and for a split second, closer to the end of the video, the back of a woman's neck is shown with some sort of digital diagram on it, similar to the ENSI ports used by Rena Hirose in Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere.
There are quite a few Trojan references in Ace Combat Infinity as shown by the Ulysses Disaster trailer:
- The terrorist group, Sons of Troia, uses an alternate spelling of "Troy";
- Ulysses is the Roman name for Odysseus, the Greek king who came up with the Trojan Horse;
- Stonehenge is built in Turkey, the original location of Troy;
- The Ulysses asteroid is a Jupiter Trojan.
During the beta in November, Goodfellow mentioned that Comona Base is known as Area B9K, but the briefing map displayed Area B7K. This was corrected in the beta in December, where the briefing map now shows B9K.
It was announced that playing the campaign would not cost anything to the player the first time through. This was drastically changed in the final release of the game, where the player is now forced to use both fuel and credits.
The Bacura, from XEVIOUS series is seen as an easter eggs after the mission update in Tokyo Martial Law at altitudes of 20,000 feet.
Ace Combat Infinity has 64 playable aircraft as of December 2015, the most playable aircraft of any Ace Combat game. There are over 100 Special Aircraft, adding up to a total of around 200 aircraft.

References

↑ File:Infinity Shut Down Fuel PSN.png.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Lost Butterfly, Ace Combat Infinity.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Great Migration, Ace Combat Infinity.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 Far Eastern Front, Ace Combat Infinity.
↑ Rescue, Ace Combat Infinity.
↑ Stonehenge, Ace Combat Infinity.
↑ Avalon, Ace Combat Infinity.
↑ Area B7R, Ace Combat Infinity
↑ Operation Bunker Shot, Ace Combat Infinity.
↑ 河野一聡 on Twitter. Published October 2, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
↑ @PROJECT_ACES
↑ "The endless blue awaits in ACE COMBAT™ INFINITY"
↑ ^13.0 ^13.1 Ace Combat Infinity Interview (with Kono-san)
↑ Franchise Changes Interview
↑ @kazutoki
↑ @PROJECT_ACES: Japanese/English
↑ @PROJECT_ACES
↑ @PROJECT_ACES
↑ Ace Combat -Official Fan Site-
↑ 「ACE COMBAT INFINITY」，11月7日にスタートする日本先行オープンβテストの詳細が公開に。「オンライン協同戦役モード」など3つのモードを体験できる
↑ @PROJECT_ACES
↑ @PROJECT_ACES
↑ @PROJECT_ACES
↑ エースコンバットインフィニティオープンベータテスト予告01
↑ エースコンバットインフィニティオープンベータテスト予告02
↑ @Yuki_flakes63
↑ ACE COMBAT INFINITY エースコンバットインフィニティ｜バンダイナムコゲームス公式サイト
↑ @kazutoki
↑ [1]
↑ [2]
↑ Ace Combat Infinity - Mission Notice Trailer (Eurogamer)
↑ PS3「エースコンバットインフィニティ」Mission Notice
↑ Ace Combat Infinity boarding PS3s on May 27
↑ Timeline Photos - ACE COMBAT -Official Fan Site-. See the page's comment to "Perry Chow". Published on January 15, 2015. Retrieved on January 16, 2015.

[INFShutDown-1] File:Infinity Shut Down Fuel PSN.png.

[ACEINF-M01-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Lost Butterfly, Ace Combat Infinity.

[ACEINF-M02-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Great Migration, Ace Combat Infinity.

[ACEINF-M05-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 Far Eastern Front, Ace Combat Infinity.

[ACEINF-M03-5] Rescue, Ace Combat Infinity.

[ACEINF-M04-6] Stonehenge, Ace Combat Infinity.

[ACEINF-M06-7] Avalon, Ace Combat Infinity.

[ACEINF-M07-8] Area B7R, Ace Combat Infinity

[ACEINF-M08-9] Operation Bunker Shot, Ace Combat Infinity.

[ACEINF-M08-End-10] 河野一聡 on Twitter. Published October 2, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.

[AC3Box-11] @PROJECT_ACES

[NBGE-12] "The endless blue awaits in ACE COMBAT™ INFINITY"

[EGEInterview-13] 13.0 ^13.1 Ace Combat Infinity Interview (with Kono-san)

[GTFuelSystem-14] Franchise Changes Interview

[Twitter2-15] @kazutoki

[TwitterFall-16] @PROJECT_ACES: Japanese/English

[BetaTwitter-17] @PROJECT_ACES

[BetaJapanOnly-18] @PROJECT_ACES

[OtherBeta-19] Ace Combat -Official Fan Site-

[4gamerBeta-20] 「ACE COMBAT INFINITY」，11月7日にスタートする日本先行オープンβテストの詳細が公開に。「オンライン協同戦役モード」など3つのモードを体験できる

[BetaClosed-21] @PROJECT_ACES

[Twitter17-22] @PROJECT_ACES

[NewBetaDec-23] @PROJECT_ACES

[NewBetaTrailer-24] エースコンバットインフィニティオープンベータテスト予告01

[NBT2-25] エースコンバットインフィニティオープンベータテスト予告02

[Twitter18-26] @Yuki_flakes63

[ACINews-27] ACE COMBAT INFINITY エースコンバットインフィニティ｜バンダイナムコゲームス公式サイト

[Twitter19-28] @kazutoki

[WorldBetaPSBlog-29] [1]

[WorldBetaFB-30] [2]

[RDTrailer-31] Ace Combat Infinity - Mission Notice Trailer (Eurogamer)

[RDTrailerJP-32] PS3「エースコンバットインフィニティ」Mission Notice

[JoystiqRelease-33] Ace Combat Infinity boarding PS3s on May 27

[Facebook-INFCampaign-34] Timeline Photos - ACE COMBAT -Official Fan Site-. See the page's comment to "Perry Chow". Published on January 15, 2015. Retrieved on January 16, 2015.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34]

Ace Combat games

Numbered Series	Air Combat Ace Combat 2 Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

Secondary Games	Ace Combat Advance Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception Ace Combat Xi: Skies of Incursion Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy Ace Combat: Northern Wings

Spin-Off Games	Ace Combat: Joint Assault Trigger Finger Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Ace Combat Infinity

Other Games	Air Combat (arcade) Air Combat 22 The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces AR Aircraft Hanger Mach Storm

Unreleased	Ace Combat SS: The Young Yellow Brave Arms / Second / Chain Lim!t Galaxian Heroes

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Ace Combat Infinity''}}
-{{Featured|May 2015}}
+{{Featured|May 2015}}{{WPIcon|Ace Combat Infinity}}
+{{Notice|This game is no longer available for digital download on the PlayStation™Store.}}
 {{Game
-| title      = Ace Combat Infinity
+| image         = [[File:Infinity PSN Logo.jpg]]
+| tagline       = The sky is yours.<br/>Aces come to realize you as the Ace.
-| image      = [[File:Infinity PSN Logo.jpg|300px]]
+| subbar        = [[/Aircraft|Aircraft]] &middot; [[/Emblems|Emblems]] &middot; [[/Gallery|Gallery]] &middot; [[/Medals|Medals]] &middot; [[/Missions|Missions]] &middot; [[/Nicknames|Nicknames]] &middot; [[Ace Combat Infinity & Series Music Best|OST]] &middot; [[/Parts|Parts]] &middot; [[/References|References]] &middot; [[/Trophies|Trophies]] &middot; [[/Update details|Updates]]
-| tagline    = The sky is yours.<br/>Aces come to realize you as the Ace.
+| developer     = [[Project Aces]]
-| subbar     = [[/Aircraft|Aircraft]] &middot; [[/Gallery|Gallery]] &middot; [[/Missions|Missions]] &middot; [[Ace Combat Infinity & Series Music Best|OST]] &middot; [[/Trophies|Trophies]] &middot; [[/Update details|Updates]]
+| publisher     = [[Bandai Namco Entertainment]]
-| ratings    = {{ESRB|T|2=http://www.esrb.org/ratings/Synopsis.aspx?Certificate=10003849}} {{PEGI|12}} {{CERO|B}} {{ACB|PG}}
+| release       = {{sup|{{wp|Japan|JP}}}} May 20, 2014<br/>{{sup|{{wp|North America|NA}}}} May 27, 2014<br/>{{sup|{{wp|PAL region|PAL}}}} May 28, 2014
-| developer  = [[Project Aces]]
+| modes         = [[Campaign]]<br/>[[Free Mission]]<br/>[[Free Flight]]<br/>[[Online Co-Op Missions]]<br/>[[Team Deathmatch]]<br/>[[Naval Fleet Assault]]<br/>[[Ring Battle]]
-| publisher  = [[Bandai Namco Entertainment]]
+| platform      = {{wp|PlayStation 3}}
-| release    = {{sup|{{wp|Japan|JP}}}} May 20, 2014<br/>{{sup|{{wp|North America|NA}}}} May 27, 2014<br/>{{sup|{{wp|PAL region|PAL}}}} May 28, 2014
+| media         = {{wp|Digital distribution|Digital download}}
-| modes      = [[Campaign]]<br>[[Free Mission]]<br>[[Free Flight]]<br>[[Test Flight]]<br>[[Online Co-Op Missions]]<br>[[Team Deathmatch]]
+| website       = [http://ace-infinity.bngames.net/ Japanese Website]<br>[http://acecombat-infinity.com/ International Website]
-| platform   = {{wp|PlayStation 3}}
-| media      = {{wp|Digital distribution}}
+| esrb          = T
+| pegi          = 12
-| website    = [http://ace-infinity.bngames.net/ Japanese Website]<br>[http://acecombat-infinity.com/ International Website]
-| wikipedia  = Ace Combat Infinity
+| cero          = B
+| acb           = PG
+| director      = [[Natsuki Isaki]]
+| producer      = [[Kazutoki Kono]]
+| designer      = Jun Tamaoki<br/>Taichi Wada
+| writer        = Kosuke Itomi<br/>[[Yuta Hamanaka]]
+| programmer    = Masato Aikawa
+| artdirector   = Kosuke Itomi
+| sounddirector = [[Keiki Kobayashi]]
 }}
+{{Nihongo|'''''Ace Combat Infinity'''''|エースコンバット インフィニティ|Ēsu Konbatto Infiniti}} was the 16th entry in the ''[[Ace Combat]]'' series. ''Infinity'' was the first free-to-play game in the series, with a heavy focus on online cooperative multiplayer missions. It was officially released in May 2014 exclusive to the {{Wp|PlayStation 3}}.
-{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Ace Combat Infinity''}}
-'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' (Japanese: エースコンバット インフィニティ ''Ēsu Konbatto Infiniti''), officially released in late May of 2014, is the 17th entry in the ''[[Ace Combat]]'' series. ''Infinity'' is the third ''Ace Combat'' game explicitly taking place on [[Earth]], the first free-to-play game in the series, and the first digital-only release in the series. The game is exclusive to {{wp|PlayStation 3}} and, while it is free to download, it is restricted by the [[Sortie Fuel]] system.
+''Infinity'' is the third ''Ace Combat'' game to explicitly take place within our universe rather than the [[Strangereal]] universe. However, the game's plot mirrors many elements of previous Strangereal-based games, especially ''[[Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies]]''. The game also reused the same engine and many assets from ''[[Ace Combat: Assault Horizon]]''.
+[[Bandai Namco Entertainment|Bandai Namco]] held three {{Wp|Software release life cycle#Beta|public betas}} prior to the game's launch. Despite mediocre critic reviews, ''Infinity'' has been very successful with fans, and remained online for three years. Its success is believed to be a contributing factor to the development of ''[[Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown]]''.
+On December 8, 2017, it was announced that ''Infinity'' would be shut down on March 31, 2018.{{Ref|INFShutDown|[[:File:Infinity Shut Down Fuel PSN.png]].}}
+==Portal==
+===Basic Info===
+<div class="hidden"><gallery widths="200" bordersize="none" hideaddbutton="true" spacing="small" navigation="true">
+Ace Combat Infinity 1st Anniversary Wallpaper 1920x1080.jpg|link=Ace Combat Infinity#Aircraft|'''[[#Aircraft|Aircraft]]'''
+Infinity portraits.png|link=Ace Combat Infinity#Characters|'''[[#Characters|Characters]]'''
+Bunker Shot Infinity.jpg|link=Ace Combat Infinity/Missions|'''[[Ace Combat Infinity/Missions|Campaign Missions]]'''
+</gallery></div><div style="display:none;">
+*'''[[#Aircraft|Aircraft]]'''
+*'''[[#Characters|Characters]]'''
+*'''[[Ace Combat Infinity/Missions|Campaign Missions]]'''</div>
+===Multiplayer Modes===
-The game begins in 2019, 20 years after the world was impacted by the [[Ulysses Disaster]]. The player flies as [[Reaper]], a pilot in the [[Bone Arrow Squadron]] operating under the [[United Nations Forces]] to keep the world safe from a terrorist threat brought on by the events of the Ulysses Disaster. When the terrorists create a [[USEA Federation|united federation of nations]], Bone Arrow joins the UN permanently as [[Task Force 118]] and begin to fight back against the federation.
+<div class="hidden"><gallery widths="200" bordersize="none" hideaddbutton="true" spacing="small" navigation="true">
+ACI Comona Launch.jpg|link=Online Co-Op Missions|'''[[Online Co-Op Missions]]'''
+SOLG -Schroeter-.jpg|link=Special Raids|'''[[Special Raid|Online Co-Op Special Raids]]'''
+Team Deathmatch in Ace Combat Infinity.jpg|link=Team Deathmatch|'''[[Team Deathmatch]]'''
+Naval Fleet Assault.jpg|link=Naval Fleet Assault|'''[[Naval Fleet Assault]]'''
+Ring Battle.png|link=Ring Battle|'''[[Ring Battle]]'''
+</gallery></div><div style="display:none;">
+*'''[[Online Co-Op Missions]]'''
+*'''[[Special Raid|Online Co-Op Special Raids]]'''
+*'''[[Team Deathmatch]]'''
+*'''[[Naval Fleet Assault]]'''
+*'''[[Ring Battle]]'''</div>
+===Game Mechanics===
-A public {{wp|Software release life cycle#Beta|beta testing phase}} for Japanese PSN accounts was attempted in November of 2013, followed by a successful Japanese beta in December and a worldwide beta in February of 2014. Feedback from these beta tests were implemented into the full release of the game, including [[Team Deathmatch]] and [[Challenges]].
+<div class="hidden"><gallery widths="200" bordersize="none" hideaddbutton="true" spacing="small" navigation="true">
+Forced Sortie x6.png|link=Sortie Fuel|'''[[Sortie Fuel]]'''
+Event Drop - Banner.png|link=Random drop|'''[[Random drop|Random Drops]]'''
+Vent d'Ange Banner.png|link=Special Aircraft|'''[[Special Aircraft]]'''
+On Cloud Seven Ranking Tournament Banner.png|link=Ranking Tournament|'''[[Ranking Tournament]]s'''
+Special Supply MiG-1.44 -Sulejmani- F-14A -Zipang- Banner.png|link=Special Supply|'''[[Special Supply|Special Supply Tickets]]'''
+Skilled Pilot Medal April 2016 Update 1 Banner.png|link=Skilled Pilot Medal|'''[[Skilled Pilot Medal]]s'''
+Area 88 Collaboration.png|link=Collaboration Event|'''[[Collaboration Event]]s'''
+Ace Combat Infinity Maintenance Banner March 2016.png|link=Ace Combat Infinity/Update details|'''[[Ace Combat Infinity/Update details|Update Details]]'''
+Soulcalibur Collab Event.png|link=Category:Ace Combat Infinity downloadable content|'''[[:Category:Ace Combat Infinity downloadable content|Downloadable Content]]'''
+</gallery></div><div style="display:none;">
+*'''[[Sortie Fuel]]'''
+*'''[[Random drop|Random Drops]]'''
+*'''[[Special Aircraft]]'''
+*'''[[Ranking Tournament]]s'''
+*'''[[Special Supply|Special Supply Tickets]]'''
+*'''[[Skilled Pilot Medal]]s'''
+*'''[[Collaboration Event]]s'''
+*'''[[Ace Combat Infinity/Update details|Update Details]]'''
+*'''[[:Category:Ace Combat Infinity downloadable content|Downloadable Content]]'''</div>
 ==Plot==
-===Background===
+===Combatants===
+<gallery widths="225" bordersize="none" hideaddbutton="true" navigation="true">
-{{main|Ulysses Disaster}}
+Flag of the United Nations.svg|link=United Nations (Infinity)|'''[[United Nations (Infinity)|United Nations]]'''
-[[File:Ulysses Disaster 2.png|275px|thumb|right|News coverage of the [[Ulysses Disaster]]]]In 1994, an asteroid named [[Polyphemus]] collided with the [[1986VG1 Ulysses]], which resulted in a mass of over 10,000 meteors that were expected to impact the Earth in five years. In response, the world's nations banded together to create [[Stonehenge (Infinity)|Stonehenge]], a network of eight anti-air railguns that would fire ballistic rounds at the meteors to prevent damage to the planet. Six Stonehenge facilities were built around the world.{{ref|ACIM1|[[Lost Butterfly]]. ''[[Ace Combat Infinity]]''.}}
+USEA Flag video.png|link=USEA Federation|'''[[USEA Federation]]'''
+</gallery>
+===Synopsis===
-Unfortunately, in July of 1999, many of the asteroids crashed into the Earth regardless of Stonehenge's support, causing a devastating loss of life in what was later known as the [[Ulysses Disaster]]. The economy and society of the world began to fall apart, but a company by the name of [[Wernher and Noah Enterprises]] stepped in and assisted the world's nations in rebuilding efforts. Refugee zones were created to help those that were displaced by the meteors and the wars, and regional conflicts that had sparked began to settle down.{{refcall|ACIM1}}
+{{Main|Ulysses Disaster|Sons of Troia insurgency|USEAn War|Operation Eternal Liberation}}
+[[File:Ulysses Disaster 2.png|thumb|250px|News coverage of the Ulysses Disaster]]
+In the late 1990s, [[1986VG1 Ulysses|a large group of meteors]] began to approach [[Earth]]. In order to defend the planet, the world's nations banded together to create six anti-air railgun networks, named [[Stonehenge (Infinity)|Stonehenge]], that would engage the meteors. Many meteors impacted the Earth, and while the Stonehenge networks prevented an extinction event, the loss of life and infrastructure was still devastating.{{Ref|ACEINF-M01|[[Lost Butterfly]], ''Ace Combat Infinity''.}}
+During the subsequent economic and societal chaos, a defense contractor, [[Wernher and Noah Enterprises]], stepped in to assist the world's nations in rebuilding. Refugee zones were set up, and over the 20 years since the Ulysses Disaster, Wernher Noah made advancements in producing aircraft, opening the doors for many pilots to become mercenaries.{{Ref|ACEINF-M02|[[Great Migration]], ''Ace Combat Infinity''.}} The player, [[Reaper]], is one of these mercenary pilots who joins the private military corporation [[Arrows Air Defense and Security]] (under [[United Nations (Infinity)|United Nations]] command) in 2019. Reaper is assigned to the [[Bone Arrow Squadron]].{{Refcall|ACEINF-M01}}
-===Terrorist Attacks===
-{{Main|Sons of Troia insurgency}}
-The refugee zones that were created post-Ulysses still exist by 2019, economically supported by Wernher Noah. However, [[Kacper Cohen]], lead weapons developer of the company, had gained a hatred for the [[United Nations]] and their handling of world affairs after Ulysses.{{ref|ACIM5|[[Far Eastern Front]]. ''[[Ace Combat Infinity]]''.}} He launches an attack against the [[UNF Pacific Fleet]] stationed in [[Tokyo]] using upgraded [[MQ-90 Quox]] UAVs. Due to the reduced military budgets as a result of Ulysses, the UNF hires the [[Bone Arrow Squadron]], a mercenary squadron owned and operated by the private military company [[Arrows Air Defense and Security]]. Bone Arrow is tasked with defending Tokyo during the attack.{{refcall|ACIM1}}
+[[Kacper Cohen]], the lead weapons developer at Wernher Noah, becomes disillusioned with the United Nations and their handling of world affairs and begins attacking UN forces with the assistance of the terrorist organization, the [[Sons of Troia]].{{Ref|ACEINF-M05|[[Far Eastern Front]], ''Ace Combat Infinity''.}} Reaper, who is unaware of Cohen's role, joins fellow Bone Arrow pilot [[Omega]] in shutting down a [[MQ-90 Quox|UAV]] attack in [[Tokyo]].{{Refcall|ACEINF-M01}} They then join Bone Arrow leader [[Viper]] and fellow pilot [[Bronco]] in investigating a lead at a [[Comona Base|rocket launch facility]] in the West Indies,{{Refcall|ACEINF-M02}} followed by rescuing [[Greymen|top executives]] kidnapped by the terrorists, where they are joined by the [[United Nations Forces]] and the elite [[Ridgeback Squadron]]. However, the rescue attempt goes awry when the executives are not found and the air units are fired upon by a nearby Stonehenge network that was hijacked by the terrorists.{{Ref|ACEINF-M03|[[Rescue (Infinity)|Rescue]], ''Ace Combat Infinity''.}}
-The UN investigates Wernher Noah following the incident and discovers [[Shattered Skies|plans]] for an [[Orbital Laser Defense System|orbital weapon]]. Cohen is fired from the company as a result. Meanwhile, Bone Arrow Squadron tracks down a UN lead at the [[Comona Base]] in the West Indies concerning the orbital weapon plans.{{ref|ACIM2|[[Great Migration]]. ''[[Ace Combat Infinity]]''.}} Soon after, a group of nine high-powered executives known as the [[Greymen]] are kidnapped in Russia by the [[Sons of Troia]]. Bone Arrow Squadron joins [[Ridgeback Squadron]] - an official UN squadron - and UNF Marine commandos in attempting to rescue the Greymen from their captive location.{{ref|ACIM3|[[Rescue]]. ''[[Ace Combat Infinity]]''.}} However, the Greymen have already been assassinated{{refcall|ACIM5}}, and Stonehenge Type-3 is used to attack all of the units attempting the rescue, who all manage to escape unharmed.{{refcall|ACIM3}}
-Bone Arrow, the Ridgebacks, other UNF squadrons, and the UNF commandos are brought together in [[Operation Crusher|a joint operation with the aim of destroying the Stonehenge facility]]. [[Reaper]] single-handedly destroys the entire network.{{ref|ACIM4|[[Stonehenge (mission)|Stonehenge]]. ''[[Ace Combat Infinity]]''.}} The Sons of Troia, revealed to be led by Kacper Cohen, announce their plans for a unified world without the United Nations and launch an offensive across Eurasia, creating the [[USEA Federation]]. The United Nations perform a two-front counter-offensive in [[Dubai]] and [[Tokyo]], [[Operation Override|the latter of which]] is being performed by the same units fighting at Stonehenge. They encounter a [[QFA-44 Carmilla|new CFA-44 variant]] backed up by [[MQ-90L]]s, one of which kills [[Slash]], leader of Ridgeback Squadron, in mid-air. Reaper eventually shoots down the CFA-44, and the remaining air units attack an [[Aigaion-class heavy command cruiser]]. Reaper deals the finishing blow to the heavy command cruiser as well.{{refcall|ACIM5}}
+Bone Arrow, the Ridgebacks, other UNF squadrons, and UNF ground forces are brought together in a [[Operation Crusher|joint operation]] with the aim of destroying the Stonehenge facility, where Reaper single-handedly destroys the entire network.{{Ref|ACEINF-M04|[[Stonehenge (mission)|Stonehenge]], ''Ace Combat Infinity''.}} Kacper Cohen then publicly announces his plan for a unified world without the UN, creates the [[USEA Federation]], and launches a worldwide offensive against the organization. The Stonehenge strike team, including the Bone Arrows and Ridgebacks, perform a [[Operation Override|counter-offensive operation in Tokyo]]. They encounter a [[QFA-44 Camilla|QFA-44]], a UAV variant of the [[CFA-44 Nosferatu]], supported by [[MQ-90L Quox bis]] units. The MQ-90Ls kill the leader of the Ridgebacks, [[Slash]]; [[Nagase]], second-in-command, takes control of the squadron. Reaper shoots down the QFA-44. The remaining air units attack and destroy an [[Aigaion-class heavy command cruiser]] that launched the QFA-44, and Tokyo is liberated by the ground units.{{Refcall|ACEINF-M05}}
+Following these events, Viper retires from Bone Arrow, and Reaper and Nagase are promoted to the flight lead positions in their respective squadrons. The United Nations assimilates all of the world's well-known mercenaries, including Bone Arrow and Ridgeback, into [[Task Force 118]] to defend against the USEA Federation and eventually shut it down.{{Refcall|ACEINF-M05}} As part of this effort, Task Force 118 disables [[Avalon Dam, Russia|Avalon Dam]], an [[Intercontinental ballistic missile|ICBM]] launch facility{{Ref|ACEINF-M06|[[Avalon (mission)|Avalon]], ''Ace Combat Infinity''.}}; engages USEA squadrons and another QFA-44 in [[Area B7R, Nevada|Area B7R]] in the [[United States of America|United States]]{{Ref|ACEINF-M07|[[Area B7R (Campaign)|Area B7R]], ''Ace Combat Infinity''}}; and performs a landing operation against USEA in the Adriatic Sea. Partway through the landing operation, the [[OLDS]], a weapon that can redirect asteroids intended to keep Earth safe, attacks the UN forces with asteroids. The remaining units press on with the assault, eventually causing USEA to retreat and allowing the UN to establish a beachhead.{{Ref|ACEINF-M08|[[Operation Bunker Shot (Infinity)|Operation Bunker Shot]], ''Ace Combat Infinity''.}}
-===Eternal Liberation===
-{{main|Operation Eternal Liberation}}
-Following these events, the United Nations assimilates all of the well-known mercenaries around the world, including Ridgeback Squadron and Bone Arrow Squadron, into [[Task Force 118]] codenamed Arrowblades. 118's main goal is to defend against the perimeters of USEA and fight the federation's armed forces, hoping to eventually shut it down.{{refcall|ACIM5}}
+At this point, the plot is left on a cliffhanger. Players are given more details on the OLDS and the QFA-44 units (and their pilot, [[Camilla]]) in a cutscene following the final mission, but [[Kazutoki Kono]] has confirmed that there will be no further campaign missions.{{Ref|ACEINF-M08-End|[https://twitter.com/kazutoki/status/517368067395825664 河野一聡 on Twitter]. Published October 2, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.}}
-In March of 2020, Arrowblades receives a deployment request at the [[Avalon Dam, Russia|Avalon Dam]] facility following information concerning a possible ICBM launch. All Arrowblades forces assist in destroying the facility, and Reaper, now the leader of Bone Arrow flight under the Arrowblades squadron, successfully destroys an ICBM that had managed to launch. The ICBM was attempting to strike [[Washington, D.C.]], in order to drag the weakened [[United States of America]] into the USEA war.{{ref|ACIM6|[[Avalon (mission)|Avalon]]. ''[[Ace Combat Infinity]]''.}}
+===Characters===
-Two months later, USEA fighter squadrons take off from South America and head towards the United States in a second attempt to drag them into the war. The Arrowblades's air squadrons were scrambled from a base in [[San Diego]] to intercept the USEA forces over [[Area B7R, Nevada|Area B7R in Nevada]]. During this engagement, [[Ater Team|an elite squadron]] attempts to aim exclusively for and shoot down [[Nagase]], the new lead of Ridgeback Squadron. Reaper and all other units are forced to support her and shoot down all Ater units. The Butterfly Master then makes a return with more MQ-90Ls, but Reaper makes quicker work of the aircraft this time. The UNF interrogates their prisoners, and they learn that the Butterfly Master uses a [[QFA-44 Carmilla]] which utilizes a [[Papillon Project satellite|low-orbit satellite communications network]] for navigation. A space treaty, very much supported by South American countries, currently prevents the UNF from being able to just destroy the satellites.{{ref|ACIM7|[[Area B7R (Campaign)|Area B7R]]. ''[[Ace Combat Infinity]]''.}}
+[[File:Infinity portraits.png|thumb|250px|From left to right: Viper, Goodfellow, Omega, Nagase]]
+*'''[[Reaper]]''' is the silent player character. He joins Bone Arrow Squadron as Bone Arrow 4, but following his accomplishments and Viper's retiring, he is promoted to Bone Arrow 1. His "Grim Reaper" emblem becomes an inspiration for UN forces and a fear tactic against USEA forces.
+*'''[[Viper]]''' is the flight lead of Bone Arrow Squadron through the first act of the game. He's a veteran worldwide mercenary; his emblem is that of a snake with its tail making an infinity symbol, signifying his innumerable kill count. He retires following the Tokyo counter-offensive.
+*'''[[Omega]]''' is the second pilot in Bone Arrow Squadron. He supports Reaper in many of their sorties, and flies as Reaper's second-in-command when he becomes the flight lead.
+*'''[[Goodfellow]]''' is the commander of Bone Arrow Squadron and their liaison to the Arrows company. The United Nations hires him as commander of Task Force 118 during their offensive against the USEA Federation.
+*'''[[Slash]]''' is the flight lead of Ridgeback Squadron. He sticks close to formation tactics, usually preventing the Ridgebacks from making reckless decisions on their own, and looks down upon the Bone Arrows. He is killed by an MQ-90L over Tokyo.
+*'''[[Nagase]]''' is Slash's second-in-command in Ridgeback Squadron. Following his death, she becomes the squadron's flight lead. She carries a vendetta against the QFA-44 for killing Slash, and refuses to let the Bone Arrows surpass her squadron.
+*'''[[AWACS Sky-Eye]]''' is the UN-affiliated [[Airborne Warning and Control System|AWACS]] unit supporting Ridgeback Squadron. Sky-Eye provides tactical support to Bone Arrow Squadron during their joint operations, and all UN units following Sky-Eye's assimilation into Task Force 118.
+*'''[[Kacper Cohen]]''' was the head of weapons development at Wernher Noah before he is kicked out of the company following his potential link to terrorist activities. He is the ''de facto'' leader of the USEA Federation.
+*'''[[Camilla]]''', or the Butterfly Master, is a young woman who controls the QFA-44 and MQ-90L units from a low-orbit satellite developed under the mysterious [[Papillon Project]]. Few other details are available on this mysterious character.
+===References to past games===
-In September, Task Force 118 and the UNF launch their [[Operation Bunker Shot (Infinity universe)|first offensive campaign]] against USEA in the Adriatic Sea. Their goal is to secure a foothold on one of USEA's borders in Eastern Europe and begin an invasion of their territory. Partyway through the operation, however, the orbital weapon previously discovered by the UN has become operational and utilizes meteors to kill most of the UNF landing troops and air squadrons. After a few moments, the remaining units decide to continue pressing the assault, and eventually cause USEA to retreat from the beaches. While costly, the operation is deemed a success.{{ref|ACIM8|[[Operation Bunker Shot (Infinity)|Operation Bunker Shot]]. ''[[Ace Combat Infinity]]''.}}
+''Infinity'' contains more references to past ''Ace Combat'' games than any ''Ace Combat'' game before it. Many elements from past games underwent a process known as {{wp|Retroactive continuity|retconning}} to embed them into the [[Infinity universe|''Infinity'' universe]].
+For a list of references to past games present in ''Infinity'', see [[Ace Combat Infinity/References]].
-At this point, the plot is left on a cliffhanger. Players are given details on the OLDS, the first look at the [[Papillon Project]] and its pilot, [[Camilla]], as well as the red [[Mobius Squadron]] emblem featured in ''[[Aces At War: A History]]''.{{refcall|ACIM8}} [[Kazutoki Kono]] has stated that Mission 8 is the end of the Campaign;{{ref|M8End|[https://twitter.com/kazutoki/status/517368067395825664 河野一聡 on Twitter]. Published October 2, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.}} however, the official ''Ace Combat'' Facebook page confirmed that the Campaign will be expanded in the future.{{ref|FBPageCampaign|2=[https://www.facebook.com/AceCombat/photos/a.151089318254863.25341.126506274046501/896464150384039/?type=1&reply_comment_id=897544410276013&total_comments=12 Timeline Photos - ACE COMBAT -Official Fan Site-]. See the page's comment to "Perry Chow". Published on January 15, 2015. Retrieved on January 16, 2015.}}
 ==Gameplay==
+[[File:F-18F Infinity Cockpit 1.jpg|thumb|250px|Cockpit of an [[F/A-18F Super Hornet]]]]
-[[File:F-18F Infinity Cockpit 1.jpg|275px|thumb|right|Cockpit of an [[F/A-18F Super Hornet]]]]The gameplay of ''Infinity'' is noted for staying true to the "classic gameplay" of the ''Ace Combat'' series, most notably ''[[Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies]]''. [[Close Range Assault]], an integral component of gameplay in ''[[Ace Combat: Assault Horizon]]'', is not included in ''Infinity'' - otherwise, the game utilizes the same engine as ''Assault Horizon'' with minor modifications specific to ''Infinity''. These include the following:
+The gameplay of ''Infinity'' is noted for staying true to the "classic gameplay" of the ''Ace Combat'' series, most notably ''Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies''. [[Close Range Assault]], an integral component of gameplay in ''Ace Combat: Assault Horizon'', is not included in ''Infinity'' - otherwise, the game utilizes the same engine as ''Assault Horizon'' with minor modifications specific to ''Infinity''. These include the following:
 *The targeting boxes for an enemy gets larger as the distance between the player and that enemy decreases, and vice versa. This feature was only previously seen in ''[[Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere]]''.{{ref|AC3Box|[https://twitter.com/PROJECT_ACES/status/466997317770309632 @PROJECT_ACES]|[https://twitter.com/ Twitter].}}
 *All enemy units feature a health bar underneath their targeting box. This was a feature notable on ''[[Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation]]'', but ''Infinity'' moved the health bar from the top-left of the [[Head-up display|HUD]] to directly underneath the enemy targeting box. Additionally, a red line perpendicular to this bar indicates how much damage the currently-equipped weapon will perform on that enemy unit.
-*[[Tactical Datalink]] is a new feature that builds on the Friendly Assist System of ''Assault Horizon''. When the player flies close to a friendly aircraft that they are linked to, their aircraft's performance is boosted. The exact boost is selected while editing a Aircraft Settings (see [[#Customization|below]]). This also functions in single-player as well as multiplayer. The targeting box for the closest friendly unit to the player, when Datalink is idle and ready, will indicate how much closer the player needs to be to that ally to initiate the Datalink.
+*[[Tactical Datalink]] is a new feature that builds on the Friendly Assist System of ''Assault Horizon''. When the player flies close to a friendly aircraft that they are linked to, their aircraft's performance is boosted. The exact boost is selected while editing an Aircraft Settings (see [[#Customization|below]]). This also functions in single-player as well as multiplayer. The targeting box for the closest friendly unit to the player, when Datalink is idle and ready, will indicate how much closer the player needs to be to that ally to initiate the Datalink.
 *The [[head-up display]] shows the traditional radar and aircraft info (ammo, health, reloading) along the bottom of the screen; allotted score, remaining time, and the score of the targeted enemy are located on the top-left of the screen; and any checkpoints are noted in the top-right of the screen as they are encountered.
 *Oil and shrapnel will splatter on the screen when an enemy close to the player's aircraft is destroyed, similar to ''Assault Horizon''.
-[[File:Axsxa.png|thumb|265px|An [[A-10A Thunderbolt II]] attacking [[Stonehenge (Infinity)|Stonehenge Type-3]]]]Superweapons and original aircraft appear multiple times throughout ''Infinity'', in both multiplayer and single-player. The superweapons include the [[Aigaion-class heavy command cruiser]], the [[Scinfaxi-class submarine|''Scinfaxi''-class submarine]], and the [[Stonehenge (Infinity)|Stonehenge]] railgun network, while the original aircraft include the [[QFA-44]] and the [[ADFX-01 Morgan]].
+[[File:Axsxa.png|thumb|250px|An [[A-10A Thunderbolt II]] attacking [[Stonehenge (Infinity)|Stonehenge Type-3]]]]
+Superweapons and original aircraft appear multiple times throughout ''Infinity'', in both multiplayer and single-player. The superweapons include the [[Aigaion-class heavy command cruiser]], the [[Scinfaxi-class submarine|''Scinfaxi''-class submarine]], and the [[Stonehenge (Infinity)|Stonehenge]] railgun network, while the original aircraft include the [[QFA-44 Camilla]] and the [[ADFX-01 Morgan]].
+{{Clear}}
 ===Multiplayer===
 ''Ace Combat Infinity'' features a multiplayer experience alongside the single-player story campaign. [[Online Co-Op Missions]] is the primary new mode of the game, which is a 'competitive co-operative' experience where "skilled aces will form two teams and compete to inflict the most damage on a common enemy."{{ref|NBGE|[http://www.uk.namcobandaigames.eu/news/2013/08/02/the-endless-blue-awaits-in-ace-combat-infinity/3668 "The endless blue awaits in ACE COMBAT™ INFINITY"]|[[Bandai Namco Games|Namco Bandai Games Europe S.A.S.]]}} Playing multiplayer allows the player to earn experience towards further aircraft and parts through a [[Aircraft Tree|technology tree]], where further tech on the tree must be unlocked by purchasing prerequisite technologies.
@@ Line 65: / Line 137: @@
 ===Customization===
+{{Main|Aircraft Tree|Tuning|Ace Combat Infinity/Parts}}
-In a first for the series, ''Infinity'' allows players to customize and set up to four different Aircraft Sets, which include the aircraft, special weapons, aircraft parts, [[Tactical Datalink]] effect, and [[Emblems|emblem]] that the player will be flying with during that sortie. Aircraft Sets can be selected in all gameplay modes, but [[Campaign]] mode provides free "Rental Sets" for each mission, intended for new players.
+In a first for the series, ''Infinity'' allows players to customize and set up to four different Aircraft Sets, which include the aircraft, special weapons, aircraft parts, Tactical Datalink effect, and [[emblems]] that the player will be flying with during that sortie. Aircraft Sets can be selected in all gameplay modes, but [[Campaign]] mode provides free "Rental Sets" for each mission, intended for new players.
-Similar to ''[[Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception|Ace Combat X]]'', ''[[Ace Combat: Joint Assault|Joint Assault]]'', and ''[[Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy|Assault Horizon Legacy]]'', ''Infinity'' also has a [[tuning]] system which, after unlocking an aircraft, allows the player to upgrade that aircraft through the [[Aircraft Tree]]. Players can tweak their aircraft by swapping out and upgrading their aircraft's armor, missile power, gun damage, engine power, power of certain weapons, and more. Further aircraft and parts on the tree can only be unlocked if all of the aircraft and parts that show up previously on the same branch are unlocked and purchased.
+Similar to ''[[Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception]]'', ''[[Ace Combat: Joint Assault]]'', and ''[[Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy]]'', ''Infinity'' also has a [[tuning]] system which, after unlocking an aircraft, allows the player to upgrade that aircraft through the [[Aircraft Tree]]. Players can tweak their aircraft by swapping out and upgrading their aircraft's armor, missile power, gun damage, engine power, power of certain weapons, and more. Further aircraft and parts on the tree can only be unlocked if all of the aircraft and parts that show up previously on the same branch are unlocked and purchased.
-The player can also customize the plane's color scheme from a limited set of colors, which can be earned through various means such as random drops, challenges and ranking tournaments.
+The player can also customize the plane's color scheme from a limited set of colors, which can be earned through various means such as random drops, challenges, and ranking tournaments.
-Emblems can be applied to the tail, wing and nose. Some emblems features special effects, such as unique MVP music themes or colored missile smoke. Emblems can be earned through various means such as random drops, challenges and ranking tournaments.
+Emblems can be applied to the tail, wing, and nose. Some emblems features special effects, such as unique MVP music themes or colored missile smoke. Emblems can be earned through various means such as random drops, challenges, and ranking tournaments.
 ===Sortie Fuel===
@@ Line 80: / Line 153: @@
 ===Contracts===
-[[File:Elite Mercenary Contract.jpg|200px|thumb|right]] {{Main|Contracts}}
+{{Main|Contracts}}
+[[File:Elite Mercenary Contract.jpg|thumb|200px|Elite Mercenary Contract, one of two contracts available to the player]]
 While playing ''Ace Combat Infinity'', two separate "contracts" can be enabled. Each one, when activated, will last for 12 hours and award the player either extra [[credits]] for completing a mission or gaining extra research for the Aircraft Tree. Contracts can only be purchased through the PlayStation Store for real-life money or earned by completing challenges.
+{{Clear}}
 ==Aircraft==
-{{main|Ace Combat Infinity/Aircraft}}
+{{Main|Ace Combat Infinity/Aircraft}}
+{{Stub}}
+==Soundtrack==
-==References to past games==
+{{Main|Ace Combat Infinity & Series Music Best|Ace Combat Infinity/Soundtrack}}
-''Infinity'' is likely the ''Ace Combat'' game to include the most references to other ''Ace Combat'' games. Some of the past ''Ace Combat'' elements underwent a process known as {{wp|Retroactive continuity|retcon}}, where set pieces from the other games are embedded into ''Infinity''.
+{{Stub}}
-For a list of references to past games present in ''Infinity'', see [[Ace Combat Infinity/References]].
-===Soundtrack===
-The majority of the background music of ''Ace Combat Infinity'' is taken directly from other games. There is a likely chance that they were remastered in higher quality, but this has not been confirmed. Following is a list of soundtrack references to past '''''Ace Combat''''' games:
-{| class="wikitable"
-! style="text-align: center;" | Soundtrack for:
-! style="text-align: center;" | Track/Use In ''ACI''
-|-
-| '''''[[Ace Combat 2 Original Soundtrack|Ace Combat 2]]'''''
-|
-*"Fire Youngman" plays during the "Ace Combat Infinity X Area 88" collaboration trailer and the TDM Naval Fleet Assault map "[[Comona Air Base (Naval Fleet Assault)|Comona Air Base]]".
-*"Rising High" plays as the MVP music when wearing the "Phoenix #2" emblem.
-|-
-| '''''[[Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere Direct Audio with AppenDisc|Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere]]'''''
-|
-*"Amorphous" plays during the emergency mission update against falling meteorite fragments on "[[Tokyo Martial Law]]".
-*"Revelation" plays during the battle against the [[QFA-44 Carmilla]] "Butterfly Master" and her drones in "[[Area B7R (Campaign)|Area B7R]]", as well as their appearance as emergency mission updates in "[[Moscow Battle]]", "[[Area B7R Dogfight Battle]]", and "[[Adriatic Sea Landing Operation]]".
-*"Freefall" plays for the trailer "Operation: Future Prospect".
-*"Kernel" plays during "[[Operation Bunker Shot (Infinity)|Operation Bunker Shot]]" when the Ulysses attack begins.
-*"Transparent Blue" plays as the MVP music when wearing the "UPEO #2" emblem.
-*"Mind Flow" plays as the MVP music when wearing the "General Resource #2" emblem.
-*"Frozen Soul" plays as the MVP music when wearing the "Neucom #2" emblem.
-|-
-| '''''[[Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies Original Soundtrack|Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies]]'''''
-|
-*"Operation" plays during the Campaign mission briefings for Missions 1 up to 5.
-*"Sitting Duck" plays during "[[Lost Butterfly]]".
-*"Blockade" plays during "[[Test Flight]]."
-*"Deep Strike" plays during the story cutscenes between missions and in the "[[Alps Air Corridor]]" Online Co-Op Mission.
-*A remix of "Comona" plays during "[[Great Migration]]", "[[Aerospace Center Defense]]", and the TDM map "[[Comona Air Base (TDM)|Comona Air Base]]".
-*A remix of "Stonehenge" plays during "[[Stonehenge (mission)|Stonehenge]]" and the Special Raid Missions, "[[STONEHENGE RETURNS I]]", "[[STONEHENGE RETURNS II]]", "[[STONEHENGE RETURNS III]]", and "[[STONEHENGE RETURNS IV]]".
-*"[[Rex Tremendae]]" was featured in Trailer 01.
-*A remix of "Invincible Fleet" was featured in the Engage trailer and is played during "[[Far Eastern Front]]", "[[Tokyo Martial Law (HARD)]]" and the "[[EMERGENCY SEA STRIKE]]" Special Raid Mission.
-*"ISAF" plays in the briefing screen in "[[Operation Eternal Liberation]]".
-*"Silent" plays during the story cutscene before "[[Far Eastern Front]]".
-*"Stonehenge's Attack" plays during "[[Rescue]]", when the Stonehenge Type-3 attacks the commandos and the Bone Arrow/Ridgebacks pilots.
-*"Second Strike" plays during the mission briefings from Mission 6 onwards.
-*"Emancipation" plays during the briefing of the [[Orbital Laser Defense System|OLDS]].
-*"Session" plays as the MVP music when wearing the "Aquila" emblem.
-*"ZIGZAG" plays as the MVP music when wearing the "Aquila #02" emblem.
-*"Operation Bunker Shot" plays during the Campaign mission "[[Operation Bunker Shot (Infinity)|Operation Bunker Shot]]" and "[[Adriatic Sea Landing Operation]]".
-*A remix of "Blue Skies" plays during the climax of the Campaign mission "[[Operation Bunker Shot (Infinity)|Operation Bunker Shot]]".
-*"Victory" plays as the MVP music when wearing the Mobius emblem.
-*"Imminent Threat" plays during "[[Aerospace Center Defense (HARD)]]".
-*"The Northern Eye" plays during "[[Alps Air Corridor (HARD)]]".
-*"Lifeline" plays during "[[Pipeline Destruction (HARD)]]".
-|-
-| '''''[[Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War Original Soundtrack|Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War]]'''''
-|
-*"Menu" plays during the menus of the game.
-*"Hangar 1" plays during the Aircraft Sets selection immediately before a multiplayer mission.
-*"Rendezvous" plays during the newest trailer for the December beta testing period{{refcall|NewBetaTrailer}}, as well as the Mission Notice Trailer{{refcall|RDTrailer}}. It is also played during "[[Far Eastern Front]]" when battling against the [[Aigaion-class heavy command cruiser]] and during the "[[EMERGENCY AIR STRIKE]]" Special Raid Mission.
-*"First Flight" played during the presentation of ''Ace Combat Infinity'' at the Tokyo Game Show event.
-*"Scinfaxi" plays during the emergency mission updates against the [[Scinfaxi-class submarine]] in "[[Tokyo Martial Law]]", "[[Aerospace Center Defense]]", "[[Pipeline Destruction]]", and "[[Adriatic Sea Landing Operation]]".
-*"Reprisal" plays during "[[Tokyo Martial Law]]" and "[[Retro Combat Evaluation]]".
-*"Tutorial Result" plays during the results screen after a multiplayer match.
-*"Blue Skies (remix)" was featured in the Open Beta Test Notice 2 trailer and plays in the Staff Credits of the full game. It is also played as MVP music when wearing the "Ridgebacks" emblem.
-*"Ghosts of Razgriz" plays during the Campaign mission "[[Rescue]]" and the Online Co-Op Mission "[[Weapons Base Assault]]".
-*"Arcade Menu" plays during the mission prep menu before starting a Campaign mission.
-*"Result" plays during every Campaign mission debriefing.
-*"Chain Reaction" plays during the airport attack emergency mission update in "[[Dubai Night Assault]]".
-*"Unsung Heroes" plays as the MVP music when wearing the "Wardog" emblem.
-*"Free Flight" plays as the MVP music when wearing the "Wardog #02" emblem.
-*"[[The Journey Home]]" plays as the MVP music when wearing the "Wardog (emblem)" emblem.
-*"The Journey Home (Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra version)" plays as the MVP music when wearing "The Heroes of Razgriz #2" emblem.
-*"Naval Blockade" plays for the TDM Naval Fleet Assault map "[[Pipeline (Naval Fleet Assault)|Pipeline]]".
-*"Winter Storm" plays during the "[[Satellite Interception I]]" and "[[Satellite Interception II]]" Special Raid Missions.
-*"[[The Unsung War]]" plays as the MVP music when wearing "The Ghosts of Razgriz" emblem and "The Heroes of Razgriz" emblem, as well as during the "[[Satellite Interception III]]" and "[[Satellite Interception IV]]" Special Raid Missions.
-*"Razgriz (Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra version)" plays as the MVP music when wearing "The Ghosts of Razgriz #2" emblem.
-|-
-| '''''[[Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War Original Soundtrack|Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War]]'''''
-|
-*"Contact" plays during the emergency mission updates against the Scylla Squadron, Titan Squadron, and Quickshot Squadron in [[Online Co-Op Missions]].
-*"Annex" plays during "[[Pipeline Destruction]]". It also plays during the helicopter attack emergency mission update in "[[Pipeline Destruction]]", "[[Weapons Base Assault]]", "[[Avalon Dam Invasion]], and "[[Adriatic Sea Landing Operation]]".
-*"The Demon of the Round Table" plays during the emergency mission update against the Sniper Squadron, Specialist Squadron, and Shadow Squadron in [[Online Co-Op Missions]], as well as against the [[Ater Team]] in the Campaign mission "[[Area B7R (Campaign)|Area B7R]]".
-*"Return to Base" plays at the end of every multiplayer match in which the MVP player does not use an emblem with a music effect.
-*"HRESVELGR" plays during the battle against the [[QFA-44 Carmilla]] "Butterfly Master" and her drones in "[[Far Eastern Front]]".
-*"The Valley of Kings" plays during the Campaign mission "[[Avalon (mission)|Avalon]]" and "[[Avalon Dam Invasion]]".
-*"Avalon" plays during the ICBM launch in Campaign mission "[[Avalon (mission)|Avalon]]".
-*"The Round Table" plays during the TDM map "[[Area B7R (TDM)|Area B7R]]".
-*"[[Zero (song)|Zero]]" plays as the MVP music when wearing the "Galm" emblem.
-*"Mayhem" plays during the Campaign mission "[[Area B7R (Campaign)|Area B7R]]" and the Online Co-Op Mission "[[Area B7R Dogfight Battle]]".
-*"Morgan" plays as the MVP music when wearing the "Galm's head" emblem.
-*"Merlon" plays during "[[Dubai Night Assault (HARD)]]".
-*"Lying in Deceit" plays during "[[Retro Combat Evaluation (HARD)]]".
-*"Excalibur" plays during "[[Excalibur Onslaught I]]", "[[Excalibur Onslaught II]]", and "[[Excalibur Onslaught III]]".
-|-
-| '''''[[Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation Original Soundtrack|Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation]]'''''
-|
-*"Hangar" plays during multiplayer lobbies.
-*"Vitoze Aerial Defense" plays during the emergency mission update against Loudmouth Squadron in [[Online Co-Op Missions]].
-*"San Loma Assault" plays during the emergency mission update against Stealth Destroyers in "[[Tokyo Martial Law]]" and during the emergency mission update against the escaping battle cruiser fleet in "[[Pipeline Destruction]]".
-*"Heavy Command Cruiser" plays during the emergency mission update against the Gyges and Kottos aerial warships in [[Online Co-Op Missions]].
-*"The Dead Sea" plays during the Special Raid Missions, "[[Moby Dick Pursuit I]]", "[[Moby Dick Pursuit II]]", "[[Moby Dick Pursuit III]]", and "[[Moby Dick Pursuit IV]]".
-*"City Lights" plays during the cruise missiles emergency mission update on "[[Dubai Night Assault]]".
-*"Ragno Fortress" plays during the jamming radars emergency mission update in "[[Alps Air Corridor]]".
-*"Malebolge" plays as the MVP music when wearing the "Strigon" emblem.
-*"The Sun, The Sky and My Girl" plays as the MVP music when wearing the "Strigon #02" emblem.
-*"The Liberation of Gracemeria" plays as the MVP music when wearing the "Garuda" and "Garuda (Low-Vis)" emblems.
-*"A Brand New Day" plays as the MVP music when wearing the "Garuda (emblem)" emblem.
-|-
-| '''''[[Ace Combat: Joint Assault]]'''''
-|
-*"Skies Over the Promenade"{{ref|LegacyOST|[[ACE COMBAT 3D: CROSS RUMBLE Original Soundtrack]].}} (from the [[Grand Flight]] mission) plays as the MVP music when wearing the "Antares" emblem.
-*The background music during [[Reprisal (Joint Assault)|Reprisal]] while [[Milosz Sulejmani]]'s anti-missile defense is active plays as the MVP music when wearing the "Varcolac" emblem.
-*"Sound Embrace"{{ref|LegacyOST}} plays during "[[Weapons Base Assault (HARD)]]"
-|-
-| '''''[[Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Original Soundtrack|Ace Combat: Assault Horizon]]'''''
-|
-*"Shall Defend" plays during "[[Dubai Night Assault]]".
-*"Launch" plays during the ICBM emergency mission update in "[[Alps Air Corridor]]", "[[Moscow Battle]]", and "[[Weapons Base Assault]]".
-*"Naval Warfare" plays during the PvP (July 1st, 2014) Trailer. It is also played during in the "[[EMERGENCY GROUND STRIKE]]" Special Raid Mission, as well as in the TDM map "[[Tokyo Skies]]" and the TDM Naval Fleet Assault map "[[Dubai Sea Battle]]".
-*"Keep Alive" plays during "[[Moscow Battle]]".
-*"[[Mrs. Krista Yoslav]]" plays as the MVP music when wearing the "Akula" emblem.
-*"Dogfight" plays as the MVP music when wearing the "Warwolf (emblem)" emblem.
-|-
-| '''''[[ACE COMBAT 3D: CROSS RUMBLE Original Soundtrack|Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy]]'''''
-|
-*"Fighter's Honor (Flying Remix)" plays as the MVP music when wearing the "Phoenix (emblem)" emblem.
-|}
 ==Development==
 {{Main|Ace Combat Infinity/Development timeline}}
-According to [[Kazutoki Kono]], ''Ace Combat Infinity'' had been in development since early 2012{{refcall|EGEInterview}}, immediately following the release of ''[[Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy]]'' and ''[[Ace Combat: Northern Wings]]''. It was developed from the start to be a free-to-play game.
+According to [[Kazutoki Kono]], ''Ace Combat Infinity'' had been in development since early 2012{{refcall|EGEInterview}}, immediately following the release of ''Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy'' and ''[[Ace Combat: Northern Wings]]''. It was developed from the start to be a free-to-play game.
-[[File:Project Aces 2013 Logo.jpg|thumb|230px|The original teaser image]]
+[[File:Project Aces 2013 Logo.jpg|thumb|250px|The original teaser image]]
 The game was first teased on June 14, 2013, when Kono tweeted a photo of his Japanese passport and his laptop, which displayed a revised version of the Project Aces logo with what appeared to be several objects approaching the ground from the sky.{{ref|Twitter2|[https://twitter.com/kazutoki/status/345451070606147584 @kazutoki]|Twitter.}} Until September, ''Ace Combat'' fans would be constantly teased with images and videos giving information on the game little-by-little. By September, Project Aces had announced that ''Ace Combat Infinity'' was due to release in the Fall of 2013.{{ref|TwitterFall|@PROJECT_ACES: [https://twitter.com/PROJECT_ACES/status/374709418551566336 Japanese]/[https://twitter.com/PROJECT_ACES/status/374761886769623040 English]|Twitter.}}
@@ Line 221: / Line 175: @@
 ===Beta testing phase===
+[[File:ACI JPBetaTitle.png|thumb|250px|Japanese Beta title screen]]
 On October 17, Project Aces announced that the public beta testing would take place between November 7 and November 13, would require 2GB of free HDD space on the PlayStation 3, and would be Japan-only.{{ref|BetaJapanOnly|[https://twitter.com/PROJECT_ACES/status/391014836215087104 @PROJECT_ACES]|Twitter.}} Regions outside of Japan would partake in a second test, which was to follow the Japanese test but had no confirmed date at that time.{{ref|OtherBeta|[https://www.facebook.com/AceCombat/posts/659807827383007 Ace Combat -Official Fan Site-]|Facebook.}}
@@ Line 226: / Line 181: @@
 *[[Test Flight]], a tutorial mission for new players where players can partake in tutorial exercises
 *[[Lost Butterfly]] and [[Great Migration]], the first two missions of the story campaign
-*[[Tokyo Martial Law]], [[Pipeline Destruction]], and [[Moby Dick Pursuit]]
+*[[Tokyo Martial Law]], [[Pipeline Destruction (Infinity)|Pipeline Destruction]], and [[Moby Dick Pursuit]]
 The Sortie Fuel System, while active, was essentially irrelevant as the beta automatically granted players additional fuel. However, save data during the beta did not carry over to the game's full release.{{ref|4gamerBeta|[http://www.4gamer.net/games/225/G022517/20131101066/ 「ACE COMBAT INFINITY」，11月7日にスタートする日本先行オープンβテストの詳細が公開に。「オンライン協同戦役モード」など3つのモードを体験できる]|4gamer.net}} Players who signed up for the beta received a special "2013 Beta Test Pilot" emblem, which released simultaneously with the game.
@@ Line 238: / Line 193: @@
 On December 4, 2013, Project Aces reported through Twitter that a new beta would take place starting on December 12 and ending on December 18.{{ref|NewBetaDec|[https://twitter.com/PROJECT_ACES/status/408099975285846016 @PROJECT_ACES]|Twitter.}} The next day, they released a new trailer confirming the new beta date and indicating that the beta would, in fact, still be restricted to Japan.{{ref|NewBetaTrailer|[http://youtu.be/nZ60uJ7_brg エースコンバット インフィニティ オープンベータテスト予告01]}} A second new trailer was released on December 9,{{ref|NBT2|[http://youtu.be/FOwpZDZfSVs エースコンバット インフィニティ オープンベータテスト予告02]}} and fans later made a comparison between this second trailer and images from past trailers. They confirmed that changes were made to the story cutscenes. For example, the red portion of the [[Sons of Troia]] logo is a much lighter hue of red, and the map of [[Iyuli]] does not show any of the other cities or region lines around it.{{ref|Twitter18|[https://twitter.com/Yuki_flakes63/status/409951163153276928/photo/1/large @Yuki_flakes63]|Twitter.}} The reason for these changes remains unknown.
+[[File:Ace Combat Infinity Survey Wallpaper.jpg|thumb|250px|Free wallpaper for completing a survey for the game]]
-[[File:Ace Combat Infinity Survey Wallpaper.jpg|thumb|300px|Free wallpaper for completing a survey for the game]]The beta was re-released (under the same file) a few minutes before 11:30 AM Tokyo time on December 12. Simultaneously, a mandatory patch was released for everyone, regardless if they already had the beta installed on their PS3. Besides the minor changes to cutscenes as mentioned above, very little was modified from the November beta and players were assured to still earn the 2013 Beta Test Pilot emblem. A few hours after its release, the New Title website completely changed to make it more of a "central hub" for news on the game. Of note is that a survey section was opened, asking beta participants for their opinions on the game, which awarded anyone who completed the survey an exclusive desktop wallpaper. The beta ran for a few hours longer than originally scheduled, and was closed on December 19. Later that same day, the release date was officially changed to 2014.{{ref|ACINews|[http://projectaces-newtitle.bngames.net/news/ ACE COMBAT INFINITY エースコンバット インフィニティ｜バンダイナムコゲームス公式サイト]}}
+The beta was re-released (under the same file) a few minutes before 11:30 AM Tokyo time on December 12. Simultaneously, a mandatory patch was released for everyone, regardless if they already had the beta installed on their PS3. Besides the minor changes to cutscenes as mentioned above, very little was modified from the November beta and players were assured to still earn the 2013 Beta Test Pilot emblem. A few hours after its release, the New Title website completely changed to make it more of a "central hub" for news on the game. Of note is that a survey section was opened, asking beta participants for their opinions on the game, which awarded anyone who completed the survey an exclusive desktop wallpaper. The beta ran for a few hours longer than originally scheduled, and was closed on December 19. Later that same day, the release date was officially changed to 2014.{{ref|ACINews|[http://projectaces-newtitle.bngames.net/news/ ACE COMBAT INFINITY エースコンバット インフィニティ｜バンダイナムコゲームス公式サイト]}}
 ====Worldwide beta====
+[[File:ACI BetaWorldwideTitle.png|thumb|250px|Worldwide Beta title screen]]
 On January 8, 2014, Kazutoki Kono confirmed to a fan through Twitter that a beta was still scheduled for western markets before the game was to release.{{ref|Twitter19|[https://twitter.com/kazutoki/status/420906744219312129 @kazutoki]|Twitter.}} On the 30th, simultaneously on the PlayStation Blog{{ref|WorldBetaPSBlog|[http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/01/30/lords-of-the-fallen-on-ps4-leads-bandai-namcos-2014-showcase/]|PlayStation Blog.}} and Facebook{{ref|WorldBetaFB|[https://www.facebook.com/AceCombat/posts/10103322492779768]|Facebook.}}, Bandai Namco announced the dates for the worldwide beta (excluding Japan), which would begin on February 4 and conclude on February 11. An exclusive emblem for participating and the same wallpaper for providing feedback were confirmed to be a part of this beta as well. The content in the worldwide beta was exactly the same as that featured in the Japanese beta.
-====Official release====
+===Official release===
 After the end of the betas, up until the end of April, Project Aces reported through Twitter and Facebook every so often that they were working on responding to the feedback and polishing the game as best as they could. On April 22, 2014, the Mission Notice Trailer was leaked early by Eurogamer; the trailer set the game's European release date as May 28, 2014, and showed off all of the missions in the game.{{ref|RDTrailer|[http://www.eurogamer.pt/videos/ace-combat-infinity-mission-notice-trailer Ace Combat Infinity - Mission Notice Trailer] (Eurogamer)}} The trailer was then uploaded to Bandai Namco's YouTube channel, which announced the Japanese release date as May 20, 2014.{{ref|RDTrailerJP|[https://youtu.be/Vw5Il-j6b6A PS3「エースコンバット インフィニティ」Mission Notice]}} Additionally, ''Infinity'' was added to the PlayStation Store in Japan as a "pre-order" complete with two exclusive emblems and two exclusive nicknames. Joystiq later published an article using a press release from Bandai Namco confirming the North American release as May 27, and revealing that plans for a "Player vs. Player" mode was planned to be included with the game at some point.{{ref|JoystiqRelease|[http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/22/ace-combat-infinity-boarding-ps3s-on-may-27/ Ace Combat Infinity boarding PS3s on May 27]}}
+==Gallery==
+:''See the gallery for this article at [[Ace Combat Infinity/Gallery]].''
 ==Trivia==
+*In January 2015, the official ''Ace Combat'' Facebook page implied that the campaign would be expanded in the future{{Ref|Facebook-INFCampaign|2=[https://www.facebook.com/AceCombat/photos/a.151089318254863.25341.126506274046501/896464150384039/?type=1&reply_comment_id=897544410276013&total_comments=12 Timeline Photos - ACE COMBAT -Official Fan Site-]. See the page's comment to "Perry Chow". Published on January 15, 2015. Retrieved on January 16, 2015.}} but it has yet to be updated as of May 2017.
 *[[Camilla]] repeatedly hums the Mappy theme song, and Mappy himself appears as a silhouette on a pair of wireless headphones. Interestingly enough, ''Ace Combat Infinity'' was originally intended to be launched in 2013, which was the 30th anniversary of ''Mappy''{{'}}s release.
-*''Infinity'' is running on the same (or an upgraded version of the) engine that ''[[Ace Combat: Assault Horizon|Assault Horizon]]'' utilized, as evidenced by the oil splatters on the screen and the explosion effects.
+*''Infinity'' is running on the same (or an upgraded version of the) engine that ''Assault Horizon'' utilized, as evidenced by the oil splatters on the screen and the explosion effects.
-*The game continues the trend that began in Assault Horizon in regards to the depiction of experimental aircraft. Designs like the F-15S/MTD, F-16XL or PAK FA retain their test equipment. Extended antennas to gather flight data are faithfully modeled for a more accurate depiction of the planes. This is opposed to earlier games such, which incorporated a more "what-if" rendition.
+*The game continues the trend that began in ''Assault Horizon'' in regards to the depiction of experimental aircraft. Designs like the F-15 S/MTD, F-16XL, or PAK FA retain their test equipment. Extended antennas to gather flight data are faithfully modeled for a more accurate depiction of the planes. This is opposed to earlier games such, which incorporated a more "what-if" rendition.
-*September 19, the day the Ulysses Disaster trailer was revealed, has symbolic meaning to the series. Operations [[Operation Umbrella|Umbrella]] and [[Operation Autumn Thunder|Autumn Thunder]] both took place on September 19, as well as [[AWACS SkyEye]]'s birthday.
+*September 19, the day the Ulysses Disaster trailer was revealed, has symbolic meaning to the series. Operations [[Operation Umbrella|Umbrella]] and [[Operation Autumn Thunder|Autumn Thunder]] both took place on September 19, as well as [[Andrei Markov]] and [[AWACS SkyEye]]'s birthday.
-*The Infinity symbol from the trailers bears a resemblance to the [[Mobius Squadron]] insignia, adding to the rest of the evidence that this game was heavily inspired by ''[[Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies]]''.
+*The Infinity symbol from the trailers bears a resemblance to the [[Mobius Squadron]] insignia, adding to the rest of the evidence that this game was heavily inspired by ''Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies''.
 *''Ace Combat Infinity'' appears to use similar, if not exact, squadron animations from ''[[Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War]]'', as seen in the trailers. For example, at the end of the Ulysses Disaster trailer, an aircraft squadron is seen separating formation in a very similar, if not exact, resemblance to how the [[Silber Team]] separated formation after making their entrance.
-*Additionally, the scene that shows the MVP in multiplayer uses camera angles and animations that are similar to the ones found at the end of the mission [[Pipeline]] from [[Ace Combat: Assault Horizon|''Ace Combat: Assault Horizon'']].
+*Additionally, the scene that shows the MVP in multiplayer uses camera angles and animations that are similar to the ones found at the end of the mission [[Pipeline]] from ''Ace Combat: Assault Horizon''.
 *The Ulysses Disaster trailer also features a few hints to the [[COFFIN]] system:
 **at the beginning, while loading the elements of the main menu, "establishment of neuromuscular connections" is mentioned as one of the things being loaded;
 **as the Ulysses asteroid is being explained a few seconds later, the video zooms in on a hexagonal pattern very similar to the [[ADF-01 FALKEN]]'s cockpit;
 **"COFFIN IN/SYS" is visible in the top right (above an unlit "NORMAL" and a lit "ONLINE" indicator) before the video zooms in;
-**and for a split second, closer to the end of the video, the back of a woman's neck is shown with some sort of digital diagram on it, similar to the [[ENSI]] ports used by [[Rena Hirose]] in ''[[Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere]]''.
+**and for a split second, closer to the end of the video, the back of a woman's neck is shown with some sort of digital diagram on it, similar to the [[ENSI]] ports used by [[Rena Hirose]] in ''Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere''.
 *There are quite a few Trojan references in ''Ace Combat Infinity'' as shown by the Ulysses Disaster trailer:
 **The terrorist group, [[Sons of Troia]], uses an alternate spelling of "Troy";
@@ Line 267: / Line 228: @@
 *It was announced that playing the campaign would not cost anything to the player the first time through. This was drastically changed in the final release of the game, where the player is now forced to use both fuel and credits.
 * The Bacura, from ''XEVIOUS ''series is seen as an easter eggs after the mission update in Tokyo Martial Law at altitudes of 20,000 feet.
-* ''Ace Combat Infinity'' has 64 playable aircraft as of December 2015, the most playable aircraft of any ''[[Ace Combat]]'' game. There are over 100 [[:Category:Special Aircraft]], adding up to a total of around 200 aircraft.
+* ''Ace Combat Infinity'' has 64 playable aircraft as of December 2015, the most playable aircraft of any ''Ace Combat'' game. There are over 100 [[:Category:Special Aircraft|Special Aircraft]], adding up to a total of around 200 aircraft.
-==Gallery==
-:''See the gallery for this article at [[Ace Combat Infinity/Gallery]].''
-{{reflist}}
+{{Reflist}}
+{{Navbox/Ace Combat Series}}
+[[ru:Ace Combat Infinity]]
+[[pt-br:Ace Combat Infinity]]
+[[zh:Ace Combat Infinity]]
 [[Category:Ace Combat Infinity]]