Microsoft Flight Simulator

MicroProse, the legendary game developer renowned for classics like Falcon and B-17 The Mighty Eighth, is thrilled to announce the development of the Heritage Valor Collection, a series of high-quality add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) 2020 and the upcoming Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

The Heritage Valor Collection is meticulously crafted around a WWII theme, offering virtual pilots an immersive experience with historically accurate aircraft. The inaugural product in this exciting new collection will be the B-17 Flying Fortress – The Queen.

The B-17 Flying Fortress – The Queen will feature a late-1942 B-17G model, one of the most advanced iterations of the iconic Flying Fortress, which played a crucial role in the European theater. Enthusiasts and virtual aviators alike will have the opportunity to pilot this legendary aircraft across the virtual skies.

The B-17G is being developed by a committed team, focused on bringing this venerable aircraft to Microsoft Flight Simulator with exceptional detail and historical accuracy, offering virtual pilots a fully immersive experience.

“We are incredibly proud to bring the Heritage Valor Collection to the flight simulation community,” said David Lagettie, CEO of MicroProse. “Our goal is to deliver an unparalleled level of authenticity and detail, allowing users to experience the greatness and power of these historic aircraft.”

Watch the new trailer HERE.

Early list of features

The pursue for realism

“Developing these aircraft is a challenging endeavor due to the numerous variations, even within the same block or sub-version of the aircraft. Accurate references are often difficult to find, as even museum-preserved aircraft don’t fully capture their historical authenticity,” said Sérgio Costa, Project Development Manager at MicroProse and head of the Heritage Valor Collection line of products.

Sérgio added, “We have been collaborating closely with consultants to enhance visual realism and access various resources that aid in fine-tuning the flight model and systems.”

For more information about the Heritage Valor Collection and the B-17 Flying Fortress – The Queen, visit www.heritagevalorcollection.com.

By Jorg Neumann, Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator

The longest-running game franchise at Microsoft, Microsoft Flight Simulator, today announced that it looks forward to celebrating its 40th Anniversary with the community in November 2022.

With more players than ever enjoying the incredibly detailed aircraft and authentic representation of our planet, Microsoft Flight Simulator forged new territory with versions now available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and mobile devices via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

The 40th Anniversary Edition, a completely free offering for those who already own Microsoft Flight Simulator or play it via Xbox Game Pass, is a comprehensive celebration of the franchise with both a tribute to our past as well as an introduction to new and highly anticipated aircraft types.

The nod to the past will re-introduce some classic airports and several of the most famous planes from earlier versions including Microsoft Flight Simulator X and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight!

We have also listened to our community and will incorporate the most requested aircraft types: helicopters, brought to life with an all-new Fluid Dynamics Simulation, gliders that allow you to experience the planet in a totally unique way and a highly detailed, true-to-life airliner!

Watch the Microsoft Flight Simulator – 40th Anniversary Announcement trailer HERE.

Here is just a small sampling of what simmers will find in the Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition:

Historical Aircraft:

• Wright Flyer
• Ryan NYP (“Spirit of St. Louis”)
• Douglas DC-3
• De Havilland Canada DHC-2-Beaver

Helicopters:

• Bell-407
• Guimbal Cabri G2

Gliders:

• DG Flugzeugbau LG8-18
• DG Flugzeugbau DG1001E neo

True-to-Life Airliner:

• Airbus A310

Many of these aircraft were made in collaboration with the best third-party developers including iniSimulations, MilViz, Bluemesh, Aeroplane Heaven, and others.

Microsoft Flight Simulator also announced today a unique collaboration with the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum to bring one of the world’s most famous planes, the “Spirit of St. Louis,” to life in the simulator as part of the 40th Anniversary Edition.

Finally, in an exclusive partnership with the Halo franchise and 343 Industries, Microsoft Flight Simulator introduces an incredibly detailed Halo Infinite Pelican add-on. It’s available for free today in the in-sim marketplace for owners of the sim and Xbox Game Pass members.

We can’t wait for you to experience so many new offerings coming to Microsoft Flight Simulator. Invite your friends to experience the wonders of flight. The sky is calling!

Microsoft Flight Simulator is available on Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Windows, and Steam, and on Xbox One and supported mobile phones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Microsoft announces that Microsoft Flight Simulator has released the long-awaited “Top Gun: Maverick” expansion. Develop the skills required and navigate the complexities encountered by actual Top Gun pilots in authentic locations including the most challenging landing – on an aircraft carrier. This offering will push your piloting abilities to the limits—and beyond.

The “Top Gun: Maverick” expansion contains:

• A “Top Gun: Maverick Edition” livery for the F/A-18E Super Hornet.
• Three training missions for the Super Hornet that will allow you to master radical flight maneuvers including unrestricted take-offs, split S maneuvers, and low altitude, high-speed maneuvering through complex terrain.
• Five high-speed, low-level challenges that require utmost skill to navigate just above mountains and traverse through canyons.
• A carrier deck landing challenge, one of the most demanding operations in the world of military aviation.
• A never-before-unveiled hypersonic aircraft that can attain speeds of Mach 10 and altitudes greater than 150,000 feet above sea level.
• A mission to roar into the stratosphere

Source: Blue’s News

Following the long-awaited and delayed movie release Top Gun Maverick, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020′s Top Gun expansion will be published. The add-on DLC will be free.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020′s free Top Gun expansion will be published. The expansion was announced a year ago and was originally scheduled to be launched in November 2021, however that date was later pushed back. On Twitter, Microsoft confirms the Top Gun: Maverick expansion’s release date. Fighter jets from the film are included in the free DLC. Although the developer Asobo has not revealed which aircraft will be featured in the expansion, it is known that players will be able to fly in Tom Cruise’s fighter plane. An earlier trailer also indicates the inclusion of an American aircraft carrier for landing and takeoff.

The release date is slightly earlier than that of the film of the same name, which is scheduled for May 27. Microsoft had stated that the release of the Flight Simulator extension and the film would take place around the same time. However, no official and precise release date had been set.

Source: Windows Blog

Microsoft Flight Simulator, which first launched on PC, gained a new audience of PC gamers with Xbox Game Pass. In July 2021, millions of console players were introduced to the flight simulation experience through the game’s launch on Xbox Series X|S.

Now, the Microsoft Flight Simulator Game of the Year (GOTY) Edition arrives Nov. 18. This “Thank You” to fans – new and old – includes new aircraft (such as its first military jet and a legendary short takeoff and landing (STOL) utility plane), new airports, new missions and much more.

To celebrate the launch of Windows 11, 11 landmarks across the globe will be lit up in Windows blue within Microsoft Flight Simulator. There will also be a special Windows 11 themed livery for simmers to add to their collection.

Head over to Xbox Wire for all the details on this edition.

Reno Air Races: Expansion Pack and Reno Air Races: Full Collection will also be available to buy in the Microsoft Flight Simulator marketplace starting Nov. 18. The Microsoft Flight Simulator team worked closely with the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) and dozens of pilots and owners to develop highly authentic recreations of many of the world’s most famous racing aircraft, such as North American P-51 Mustangs and Aero L-39 Albatros.

Find out more about Reno Air Races on Xbox Wire.

Source: TechPowerUp!

The upcoming Update 5 for the Asobo Studio-developed Microsoft Flight Simulator will be a welcome boon to any and all players of the simulator. The development studio has issued an update via YouTube describing the performance improvements they’ve seen with their latest work into the game engine, which has integrated DX 12 capability – taking advantage of its “closer to the metal” capabilities so as to improve performance.

The update is dropping on July 27th, the same time that the game will be made available on the Xbox family of consoles. One can easily construe a scenario where Update 5′s DX 12 and performance optimizations were made mostly as a way to make the game perform better on Xbox console hardware – the game is absolutely capable of bringing the most powerful graphics cards in the world to their knees at high resolutions and highest quality settings. With the same hardware, quality settings and playable scenario, average performance went from 32-40 FPS before the update up to the 55-60 interval post Update 5 optimizations. The update sees CPU utilization dropping by 25%; memory usage drop by 50%; and GPU utilization climbs from 75% up to 100%. Look for the break for a video showcasing the latest version of Microsoft Flight Simulator – with Update 5 applied.

Improved terrain, photogrammetry cities, more.

By Matt Wales @ Eurogamer

Barely a month has passed since Flight Simulator swooped onto PC in a cloud of acclaim, but already developer Asobo is poised to release its first major update; it’s coming next Tuesday, 29th September, and will deliver a much-improved (and typically gorgeous) rendition of Japan.

Prior to release, Asobo explained its monthly post-launch update schedule would alternate between core sim improvements and enhancements to the world. Next week’s offering, then, is Flight Simulator’s first World Update, and aims to give players a much more authentic take on Japan, starting with an upgraded digital elevation map across the entire country.

Additionally, it introduces high-resolution 3D photogrammetry for six Japanese cities – Sendai, Takamatsu, Tokushima, Tokyo, Utsunomiya, and Yokohama – as well as and six handcrafted local airports (Hachijojima, Kerama, Kushiro, Nagasaki, Shimojishima, and Suwanosejima).

Watch the Microsoft Flight Simulator – Japan World Update Trailer HERE.

Read on…

Source: TechPowerUp!

Microsoft has been preparing its Flight Simulator game, with photo-realistic graphics and realistic flying experience. Today, we got an update on game progress and when it will become available. Already up for pre-order, the Flight Simulator will come in three different versions. While all editions feature dozens of planes and over 37,000 airports, the difference is in the number of detailed airplanes and airports. For example, the standard edition comes with all 37,000 airports, but only 30 of them are super-detailed. In standard edition, there are also just 20 planes that are super-detailed. When paying for a deluxe edition, you get 25 planes and 35 detailed airports. The premium deluxe edition features 30 planes and 40 airports. The standard edition costs $59.99, deluxe edition costs $89.99, and the premium deluxe one costs $119.99. You can pre-order the game here while waiting for August 18th launch.

Start preparing for take-off. Xbox Game Studios and Asobo Studio are thrilled to announce that Microsoft Flight Simulator launches on August 18, and you can pre-order on Windows 10* or pre-install with Xbox Game Pass for PC (Beta) today.

We have been thrilled and humbled by the support and dedication that has fueled the Flight Sim community for the past 38 years. Since the launch of the very first Microsoft Flight Simulator in 1982, we knew it was finally the right time to develop the next-generation version of Microsoft Flight Simulator. We have the right tools, technology, partners and hardware to release the most realistic and authentic flight simulator to date. Microsoft Flight Simulator features include:

• Vivid and Detailed Landscapes – Immerse yourself in the vast and beautiful world that is our planet with more than 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.

Three Editions of Microsoft Flight Simulator

Explore all of this and more with any of the three editions of Microsoft Flight Simulator.

• The Microsoft Flight Simulator Standard Edition ($59.99 USD) includes 20 highly detailed planes with unique flight models and 30 hand-crafted airports. The Standard Edition will be available on day one with Xbox Game Pass for PC (Beta).
• The Deluxe Edition ($89.99 USD) includes everything from Microsoft Flight Simulator’s standard edition plus five additional highly accurate planes with unique flight models and five additional handcrafted international airports.
• The Premium Deluxe Edition ($119.99 USD) includes everything from Microsoft Flight Simulator Standard Edition plus 10 additional highly accurate planes with unique flight models and 10 additional handcrafted international airports.

In addition to its digital versions, Microsoft Flight Simulator will be available as a retail disc version at European stores via Aerosoft. For more information on these retail disc versions in Europe, please visit the Aerosoft website.

Your fleet of planes and detailed airports from whatever edition you choose are all available on launch day as well as access to the ongoing content updates that will continually evolve and expand the flight simulation platform.

By Hilbert Hagedoorn @ GURU3D

Interesting feature huh? Right now the skies would be quite empty though. But yea, next to ading real-time weather Microsoft Flight Simulator will use real flight information to simulate real-time air traffic.

This is confirmed by Sebastian Wloch, director of Asobo, in the latest video in the series of new features. The flight information will simulate “most, if not all” of the planes that fly over the world at any time, and when the game is offline, an AI will take over piloting them. Meanwhile, if players activate Live Players mode, the weather will also be simulated based on real-world information. For example, if you fly over Paris in the middle of a storm, that’s because there is indeed a storm in Paris.

Live Players mode will be the main simulation of the game, but there is also the All Players mode, which allows you to control practically everything in the simulation, including weather. The latter will be more attractive for those who only want to fly and enjoy the landscapes of the world without paying much attention to reality.

Update April 22nd: the specs have been released as to what is recommended PC wise. Obviously you’ll need a beefy PC. Flight Simulator requires at least 150GB of storage. Just 8GB of ram and an AMD Ryzen 3 1200 or Intel Core i5-4460 processor at a minimum, with 2GB of VRAM from a graphics card — with Microsoft requiring an AMD Radeon RX 570 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 graphics card.

If you really like some eye-candy, you’ll need a Ryzen 5 1500X or Core i5-8400 with 16GB of system RAM paired with a Radeon RX 590 or GeForce GTX 970.

The “ideal spec” is a Ryzen 7 Pro 2700X or Core i7-9800X / 32GB of system RAM and a something like a Radeon VII or GeForce RTX 2080 graphics card. Interesting that a Radeon VII is listed, likely in the best graphics conditions the simulator will eat up lots of VRAM.

Watch the Feature Discovery Series Episode 7: Multiplayer Trailer HERE.