You could be forgiven in thinking that Microsoft Flight Simulator was a relic of the past, with the last instalment in the long-running flight simulation series hitting store shelves in 2006. Perhaps the enhanced capabilities of PC’s nowadays has lured Microsoft back, with Asobo Studio having worked on the game for several years now. After a lengthy test phase for which recruitment commenced more than a year ago, Microsoft has this morning confirmed the latest instalment – titled simply Microsoft Flight Simulator – will be available from 18 August 2020.
So what sets Microsoft Flight Simulator apart from previous instalments? Below are some of the game’s promoted features:
Vivid and Detailed Landscapes – Immerse yourself in the vast and beautiful world that is our planet with more than 37 thousand airports, 1.5 billion buildings, 2 trillion trees, mountains, roads, rivers and more.
A Living World – Earth is vibrant and ever-changing and so is the world of Microsoft Flight Simulator which includes live traffic, real-time weather and animals.
Highly Detailed Aircraft – Hone your pilot skills in a variety of aircraft from light planes to commercial jets with comprehensive flight models. Every aircraft includes highly detailed and accurate cockpits with realistic instrumentation.
New Checklist System – From pro to beginner, scale your level from full manual to full assist with interactive and highlighted instrument guidance and checklist.
Dynamic Weather – The new weather engine enables users to switch on the live weather mode to experience real-time weather including accurate wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, rain and more.
New Day & Night Engine – Experience flight at any time of day or year allowing for night VFR, visual flight rules, navigation.
Aerodynamic Modeling – A state-of-the-art physics engine with over 1,000 control surfaces per plane allows for a truly realistic experience.
The easiest way to pick up a copy of Microsoft Flight Simulator will be Microsoft Online Store. However, physical copies will be offered in select European countries through a partnership with Aerosoft.
Three different versions will be offered, to range from $99.99 AUD through to $179.95 AUD. Each of these include the full game, with the differences primarily being around the number of plans you will have access to and the number of handcrafted major international airports on offer. A full breakdown of the three editions and their different content can be found below:
Planes in Each Edition of Microsoft Flight Simulator
Handcrafted Airports in Each Edition of Microsoft Flight Simulator
