Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, Bandai Namco’s long runningflight simulator franchise, will be getting new DLC to celebrate the series' 25th anniversary. As the trailer below showcases, the new content includes the Original Aircraft Series DLC – fighter aircraft from previousAce Combattitles – as well as new skins and emblems.

Also below is the Brand Director Kazutoki Kono as he talks more about said fighters in detail:

The interview is particularly interesting, as Kono goes into great detail about some of the origins of the aircraft designs. For instance the Shinden II was designed by Shoji Kawamori from the Macross franchise and it’s popular due to its variable wing structure, a design choice that Kawamori is an expert on.

Its first mode is the normal mode, in which the wings are in a horizontal position and the tails are in a V-shaped position. The second mode is cruise mode, where the ends of the wings are bent downward and the vertical stabilizers are folded inward – the ideal mode for traveling at high speeds. The third mode is STOVL mode, where the ends of the wings are bent downward and the vertical stabilizers are in a reverse V-shape position. When the Shinden II was created forAssault Horizon, the official F-35 hadn’t been deployed in Japan yet. So the former was designed “with the image, vision, and dream that this is going to be ‘the first state-of-the-art stealth fighter mode made in Japan.'”

The entire interview is full of absolutely fascinating tidbits and history lessons like this, and is worth a watch through. And if you’re interested in the base game, check out our favorable review ofAce Combat 7: Skies Unknownhere.

Back in Marchof this yearAce Combat 7along withBleeding Edge,Kona,Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid,The Surge 2, andAstrologastermade its way toXbox Game Pass.