Raise your seat backs and tray tables, Microsoft is taking off again with its refresh of the classic “Flight Simulator” franchise. The company announced Monday that it would be ready for PC on Aug. 18.
In a blog post, Jorg Neumann, head of the franchise for Xbox Game Studios Publishing, said “Flight Simulator” can be pre-ordered on Windows 10 or pre-installed with Xbox Game Pass for PC (beta) today.
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“We have been thrilled and humbled by the support and dedication that has fueled the Flight Sim community for the past 38 years,” Neumann wrote. “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.’
Neumann added that the tools, technology, partners and hardware have come along to make the release “the most realistic and authentic flight simulator to date.”
Three different editions will be released. The Standard Edition ($59.99) includes 20 planes with unique flight models and 30 hand-crafted airports; Deluxe Edition ($89.99) includes everything from Standard Edition plus five additional planes and five additional international airports; Premium Deluxe Edition ($119.99) includes 10 additional planes and airports.
Some of the details include:
- Enhanced landscapes with more than 37,000 airports, 1.5 billion buildings, 2 trillion trees, mountains, roads, rivers and more.
- Live traffic, real-time weather and animals.
- A variety of detailed aircraft from light planes to commercial jets with comprehensive flight models.
- A dynamic weather engine that 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.
