Microsoft Flight Sim 2024 Landing Soon
Flight sim fans already have Microsoft's Flight Simulator 2024 on their radar. The series is known for its epic visuals and realism, and the new-for-2024 version offers new career modes and enhanced environmental effects, as well as updates to cities and other locations.
Enhanced weather systems offer an even more realistic immersion, and things like wind, clouds, and rain more directly affect flight dynamics. New career paths include Search and Rescue and VIP Transport, and even Aerial Firefighting.
This is the first brand-new version of Flight Simulator since 2020's version, which in turn was the first completely new entry in the long-running series since 2006. Like the 2020 version, the game is included with your Xbox Game Pass subscription, but is also available to purchase separately, for between $69 and $199, depending on the edition.
One of the things I most liked about the 2020 edition was how realistic the globe-spanning maps were. Naturally, the first thing I did was to take off from JFK and buzz my Brooklyn apartment building. No doubt I'll do the same thing here, but with one notable difference. The 2020 version of the game requires much less storage space on your PC.
That might seem counterintuitive when games seem to get larger every year, but Microsoft says Flight Simulator 2024 will only need about 30GB of drive space, versus the nearly 150GB needed for the 2020 version. Instead of forcing you to download the entire world at once, the game starts small. According to Microsoft, the game is constantly "streaming in the higher detailed areas that are only necessary for your flight path" on the fly.
But for the full effect, having the right hardware makes all the difference, and Micro Center is stepping up with a hardware bundle designed to let you get the most out of this aviation simulation.
Flight Sim bundle: Essentials for the Virtual Pilot
This bundle targets both casual and seasoned simmers who want hands-on experience in the high-fidelity world of Flight Simulator. It includes the Thrustmaster Hotas Warthog Joystick and the Thrustmaster TPR Pendular Rudder Pedals, plus a three-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which works across PC, console, and cloud. It’s built for plug-and-play operation, so you can start taking to the skies with minimal setup hassle.
In-Store Demos
To help customers get a hands-on feel, select Micro Center locations will offer demo stations where you can try out Flight Simulator 2024 with these hardware bundles. These demo stations will be available shortly after Flight Simulator 2024's November 19 release.
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Micro Center Editor-in-Chief Dan Ackerman is a veteran tech reporter and has served as Editor-in-Chief of Gizmodo and Editorial Director at CNET. He's been testing and reviewing laptops and other consumer tech for almost 20 years and is the author of The Tetris Effect, a Cold War history of the world's most influential video game. Contact Dan at dackerman@microcenter.com.
