Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will let you exit the plane, climb mountains

Few video games accurately represent the real-life world as we know it, but Microsoft’s Flight Simulator is one such exception. It closely replicates the landscapes and distances found on our planet. First launched in 2020, Microsoft has plans to release an updated version in 2024, which should be available this year. In addition to the existing features, the upcoming version will offer players the chance to explore beyond the cockpit – they can leave the plane, wander around, climb mountains, and engage in many other activities.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: You can come out of the plane

Leaving the traditional gaming realm by incorporating real-life plane interiors integrated with Bing maps in a video game could revolutionize the gaming experience (similar to what Flight Simulator has done). This immersive experience is achieved through the use of detailed blueprints from manufacturing documents, CAD drawings, and laser scans. The result is an incredibly realistic simulation.

The ultimate item offers an opportunity to virtually visit destinations you may never physically travel to. If you’ve been to a certain city previously, it will evoke fond memories as you ‘arrive’ at the airport. In the 2024 model, you can even disembark from the virtual plane and explore – we’re excited to see how this feature unfolds.

During an interview with Andy Edser from PCgamer, the Head of Microsoft Simulator at Microsoft, Jorg Neumann shared that the game allows players to traverse the entire world on foot.

As a seasoned traveler with countless memories etched in my mind, I can hardly contain my excitement at the prospect of stepping off this plane and embarking on a journey reminiscent of simpler times. The year 2024 holds a special allure for me, as it promises to take me back to one of my favorite places – the majestic mountains that cradle my heart.

2024’s Microsoft Flight Simulator offers an even more immersive replication of the real world. This includes the ability for aircraft to touch down on ships, a feature enabled by each vessel transmitting a transponder signal. Moreover, it boasts significantly improved representations of airports, including every single glider airport, and will feature every oil rig found globally.

2024 discussions suggest significant improvements have been made across all airports, including adding small airfields for gliders and equipping offshore platforms as oil rigs, along with every lighthouse. The cloud technology has made it seem like whatever idea you can envision is achievable today if one adopts the cloud.

How big is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?

As an enthusiast, I’m excited about the enhanced details and additional features in the new Microsoft Flight Simulator, but I can’t help but feel that it might not quite match up to its predecessor in terms of size. This is due to the fact that a significant portion of the game’s functionality will be handled by the cloud, meaning it needs consistent internet connectivity to deliver a smooth gaming experience.

“By the end of 2020, the original installation size was approximately 130 GB. After incorporating 17 major updates worldwide, the total increases to around 500 GB. Additionally, there are over 5,000 user-created add-ons, which collectively amount to roughly 2 terabytes.”

For Flight Simulator 2024, we’ve made significant changes. Instead of a traditional setup, we’ve opted for a thin client architecture, which means most of the game’s data will be stored and processed in the cloud. Although we are set to release it in November, our work is far from over. We anticipate that the game’s size will be around 50 GB or less, but don’t let that fool you, as it will include a lot more data due to the increased use of cloud storage.

According to Jorg Neumann, the upcoming game’s file size will be under 50 gigabytes, an impressive feat given all the fresh features being incorporated into it.

When does Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 release?

On November 19, 2024, the new edition of Microsoft Flight Simulator will become available for both Xbox and personal computer platforms. Noteworthy is that this game is exclusive to Xbox.

“I’m eager to discover the destinations people are traveling to since significant advancements were made globally in 2024. This is an exciting opportunity to explore unmentioned aspects that I believe will make this journey captivating.”