It looks like Microsoft has decided to surprise us in a big way. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 promises to be a real breakthrough in the world of virtual travel.
The main surprise of the new version is the ability to leave the cockpit. Now virtual pilots will be able to stretch their legs by walking around any corner of the planet. There is now an opportunity to admire the sunset on a mountain top or sit by a lake. According to project manager Jorge Neumann, this is no longer just a game, but a real “digital twin” of the Earth.
There will also be something to see in the air. The Asobo team has worked hard to detail the virtual world. The game will feature all the airports, including glider pads, oil rigs and lighthouses of the planet. Moreover, the developers have added hundreds of species of animals and even a simulation of maritime traffic based on real transponder data. While flying over the ocean, players will be able to observe the movement of ships in real time.
Vegetation deserves a special mention. Thanks to machine learning, the game will feature trillions of trees that match real-world species in each region. This level of detail, according to Neumann, sets a new bar in the gaming industry.
With all this wealth of content, the developers promise to significantly reduce the size of the installation. If the previous version with updates grew to 500 GB, then the new simulator is planned to fit into a modest 50 GB or even less. This became possible due to the transition to the “thin client” architecture and the active use of cloud technologies.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will be released on November 19 on PC and Xbox Series S/X.
