Actually a niche product, the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 but just as successful as the developers of some blockbuster games could wish for.
But there is more to it than just luck: Not only did he win the prize for simulation of the year at the Game Awards but has 15 million players to date. The know-how behind the flight sim is immense. After all, it is the oldest software product from Microsoft that is still in existence. With the first release 1982 The SIM is even older than Windows!
The current part has been receiving monthly updates for four years. Despite this, the developers have managed to put together the sequel to perhaps the most complex simulation ever for November. In our preview, we'll explain what Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has in store and whether it's even worth buying if you already have the predecessor.
Anyone who fears that the sequel will be the same game with a little more content can rest assured: Microsoft has made a number of improvements and basically reworked everything. There is of course more content in the form of aircraft, but this no longer refers only to planes: helicopters and gliders make it into the game right at the start, as do a zeppelin, hot air balloons, a paramotor and the Jetson One, which can best be described as a manned drone.
Source: Microsoft
The broader offering is also reflected in the activities. The tutorials are now integrated into a career mode that is extremely extensive. There are also challenges with leaderboards, photography challenges and, of course, free flight mode. With this, Microsoft wants to respond to the most frequently mentioned feedback they have received since 2020: Give us more to do!
Finally a task
The first port of call is the career option, which is split into tutorials and tests. This is less dry than in Flight Simulator 2020, because this time we move through the game world as a real person. This also comes with a character editor that is pleasantly extensive. This even allows us to insert our own voice into the simulation via AI – an exciting feature that we will discuss in more detail later.
After creating our character, we cannot simply start our career, but must first choose a hometown. Almost all airports that the world has to offer are possible. The exceptions are international ones like Frankfurt, Heathrow and Charles-de-Gaulle – after all, complete beginners like us are not welcome there.
Source: Microsoft
So we limit ourselves to the forest and meadow airfields, of which there are fortunately countless. Once we have made our decision, we get going and talk to our mentor, who gives us a rough introduction to flying. The difference between the respective home airports is mainly that we fly over familiar terrain as we work our way through our careers. In Asia, Africa and America, the world looks a little different than in Central Europe. As a nice detail, the mentor's name is also adapted to the country.