Acecraft is going all in on the holiday spirit with the Snow Cap Festival, a massive new update that expands the game’s hand-drawn co-op chaos in a big way.
Rolling out as a two-phase celebration from December 23, 2025 through January 7, 2026, the event brings fresh seasonal content just in time for year-end sessions with friends.
After Acecraft’s breakout launch and its climb to the top of the iOS Free App charts across 34 countries, the Snow Cap Festival feels like a true victory lap — and the game’s most ambitious holiday update yet for both newcomers and long-time pilots.
The lore of the Jollyhats Jubilee
The Snow Cap Festival is centered around an in-game event known as the Jollyhats Jubilee.
This annual winter tradition in Cloudia is built on the folklore of the Hat Spirits, mythical figures believed to reward pilots who show bravery while flying through the most difficult winter weather.
The Jubilee brings a total visual transformation to the game world, featuring snow-covered environments and festive challenges.
As players fly and fight during this period, they can uncover specific fragments of winter folklore and earn seasonal rewards through story-driven encounters tied to the expanding history of Cloudia.
New S-Tier pilot: Sylas the counter-striker
The festival marks the arrival of Sylas, a new S-tier pilot who provides a distinct alternative to the typical high-speed or burst-damage playstyles found in the game.
Sylas is designed specifically for control, survival, and precise counterattacks, making him ideal for scenarios where the screen is filled with enemy projectiles. His unique mechanics allow him to absorb enemy fire and transform that pressure into raw power.
By clearing away dense bullet patterns and charging up devastating counter-strikes, Sylas can create safe spaces during the most chaotic encounters.
He is a strategic choice for players who value composure and tactical positioning over raw aggression in later stages.
Phase one: Christmas magic in Cloudia
The initial phase of the festival began December 23, 2025 and focuses on Christmas-themed content and activities. This phase includes four primary components for pilots to explore:
- Holiday log-in rewards: Players who log in daily will receive a variety of gifts, including Recruit Tickets, Diamonds, and Frost Medals.
- New themed visuals: A fresh set of holiday-themed art and visuals will be implemented across the world of Cloudia to enhance the festive mood.
- Miracle Night Missions: These are time-limited missions where players must face off against a formidable new boss, Thamus, Lord of Repose, to secure exclusive seasonal items.
- Snowcap Express Delights: Festive hubs appear throughout Cloudia where players can spend their Frost Medals. These medals can be traded for rare avatars, limited cosmetics, and pieces of hidden holiday lore.
Phase two: New Year challenges and resource boosts
On January 7, 2026, the festival moves into its second phase, introducing a new set of objectives and rewards to welcome the new year. This phase is designed to help pilots strengthen their squads through the following:
- Year of the Pilot Missions: These new objectives offer players a chance to earn boosted quantities of Recruit Tickets and Power Cubes.
- Festival Shop refresh: The shop inventory will be updated with a new selection of items, including rare avatars and exclusive Story Cards.
- Double Daily Rewards reset: The daily login system will be enhanced during this period, granting increased amounts of Gold, Diamonds, and EXP to help players progress.
Acecraft is a vibrant mobile vertical shooter that launched globally on August 28, 2025, and immediately stood out for its fully hand-drawn, co-op bullet-hell gameplay set in the whimsical world of Cloudia.
Players team up in two-player co-op runs, dodge intense projectile patterns, and choose from a roster of unique pilots as they battle through richly animated stages that evoke classic 1930s cartoons and nostalgic rubber-hose artistry.
Since launch, it’s drawn millions of players worldwide and continues to grow with seasonal updates and crossovers that keep the skies of Cloudia buzzing. Acecraft remains available for download globally on both iOS and Android platforms via Google Play.
