Thread by @Task_Force23

Here's Kono's string of tweets this morning detailing #AceCombat7 development. Had to divide it awkwardly because of character limits

Recommend having a handkerchief nearby

Ace Combat 7 is the first numbered title in 12 years.

The idea was dormant for 2 years since its proposal. Because there was a strong directive to maximize priority on free to play.

Fortunately, Infinity was supported for 4.5 years and during that time, the team was convinced

that 7 could be realized if it was on new hardware.

But it died once after it was created. Because it was something only to be looked at.

It wasn’t something we could deliver to those fans that had been waiting for so long and wanting a numbered Ace Combat.

It was very tough. It was painful.

Because the cries of the fans from when it was announced at PSX rang in my ears.

We had to start over.

There were times when we were laughed at for being displayed at PSX in consecutive years.

People joked: Is it really going to fly?

However, we firmly gained the potential of VR during that time. But even that seemed like a lump of disappointment at first.

Everything [didn’t work] and each day brought nothing but pain.

The team and I could no longer imagine what the goal would be like.

I decided to start over.

Though it was for the fans, it caused a huge inconvenience to the company, no, to everyone involved.

I apologized many times, made enormous amounts of materials, persuaded, asked, explained, presented, did everything conceivable, moved, talked, and was

going crazy in order to move forward.

Christmas of last year.

Organization began.

Ace Combat 7 became a large-scale project.

That was because we pulled out of offshore development.

But we started moving forward, little by little.

What was reassuring was that a former colleague and former main developer joined the team together.

“Wait, you’re going to do Ace Combat?”

Words I said many times.

Two producers, who you fans have gotten familiar with, also joined.

To be honest, I might have been the only mad (crazy) person in the world up to that point.

It’s fine if this is the end. I could only think about moving forward.

There was even a time where someone directly called my boss, saying to keep Kono away from development,

to get rid of him. That he asked for too much.

But that boss stood up for me saying, “I don’t think that’s the case.”

And from then, painful days resumed.

The quality didn’t improve. It was boring. We didn’t know why we should continue making it.

There wouldn’t be any difference if we put it out as is or built it in later.

Because it is a company, time and money are limited.

One day, I was called by the boss who stood up for me.

“Ace [Combat], we stop now and break up, or continue as is. Which one has a future for the brand? Will you do it forAce [Combat]?”

Shimomoto and I gave an immediate reply: “We’ll continue as is.”

We were called and questioned suddenly, so we didn’t meet beforehand.

The two of us were beginning to see the end goal.

“Alright, let’s continue.”

I was able to get him to believe in it by looking at it objectively, even though we were rock bottom.

But I was only able to get his trust.

From then, I again suffered through pain that made me want to cry.

We had to get our decision to continue approved by the company.

Concise materials with no mistakes in each and every word. Extremely short footage filled with the charm of Ace [Combat].

I faced them with only these things.

Huh?

I was going to write [about how things were] until it was finally delivered to you guys, but…

It’s kind of impossible tonight.

I’m an idiot. Lol

Alright, let’s disperse for tonight.

Everyone let’s go to sleep. Lol

To everyone who read this, thank you very much.
I’m grateful.

I wanted to write this down while my memory was still clear.

Good night.