Flight Simulator will soon be back! After fourteen years of absence, the legendary simulator will return in a version that promises to be impressive, both in terms of gameplay and graphics. A quick overview of what you need to know.
Flight Simulator is here soon. The flight simulator, which focuses on realism at all costs, will make its comeback on PC and consoles. Many of you are waiting for it, sometimes with a certain apprehension. In this small file, we will go around essential information to know to prepare well.
What is Flight Simulator?
As the name suggests, Flight Simulator is a… flight simulator. It is a question here of piloting an airplane, be it a small cuckoo or a large carrier, taking into account all the data that one could find in real life (weather, dashboard, distance, etc.
The first part was released in 1982. Admittedly, everything is relatively basic due to the limitations of the time, but the essence of the series is already there. The game has had several versions, Microsoft following the title as software, not a video game.
The last one was released in 2006, since it is Flight Simulator X. Since then, aviation fades have been biting their brakes. We will note a Microsoft Flight released in 2012, a sort of light and “gamified” version of the title, but the latter was not convincing, too limited.
When will it be released and at what cost?
Flight Simulator will be released in 2020. For the moment, Microsoft has not announced a delay due to coronavirus. Such a thing would be surprising, since the development of the game seems to be going smoothly, with a beta already scheduled for the month of July.
Microsoft should give a specific release date during the summer, certainly during a virtual conference presenting its upcoming games on the next generation of console. The game is priceless, but we can expect a usual price set around 60 euros.
On which platforms will the simulator be released?
Flight Simulator to be released on PC. It will however be necessary to pay attention to your machine, the software announcing itself very greedy. Microsoft has already released the system requirements for playing. If the recommended remains acceptable (Intel Core i5 of 8e generation as well as a GTX 970), it will be necessary to take out the big artillery to put the game to the bottom and hope to play in VR (which will be compatible). There, you will need a GeForce RTX 2080 in your PC. It will also be necessary to provide an update at the RAM level if this is not already done. Windows 10 will be required.
The game will also be released on consoles. If no date is given, we know that this version will arrive a little later. Flight Simulator was announced for Xbox One, but we suspect that it will also be optimized for Xbox Series X thanks to the Microsoft system: Smart Delivery.
Which studio is working on it?
Cock-a-doodle Doo! Flight Simulator is a French game. It is indeed developed by the studio Asobo, based in Bordeaux.
This studio has already several games to his credit (in addition to his work on games from other developers). In 2009, the studio released Fuel, a racing game that had the distinction of having an extremely wide-open world (as large as half of Belgium).
In 2019, the studio comes out at Plague Tale: Innocence. This adventure game told us the story of a sibling who had to escape the inquisition during the period of the black plague (14th century). A narrative and playful success.
What is the gameplay?
Flight Simulator is not a game. It is a flight simulation software. We can’t really talk about gameplay. There are no goals, enemies to fight, or score to explode.
It’s about stealing, simply. The challenge lies in the joy of making a soft landing in rainy weather or by having made a long-haul flight without incident. The title will allow you to create precise routes and establish weather conditions according to your mood.
Is this real life… 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Q9Dnp3Mnda
— NVIDIA GeForce UK (@NVIDIAGeForceUK) December 30, 2019
To fly, Flight Simulator will give us the whole planet, simply. Modeled with satellite data and improved thanks to Microsoft’s artificial intelligence, the landscapes are so stunning that it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between Flight Simulator and real life. Who says Reproduced Earth, says completely disproportionate playground. Over 40,000 airports are modeled. It’s not just a question of flying over a Google Maps landscape since these places around the world will be faithfully reproduced on the ground. Likewise, millions and millions of cities can be flown over. Do you want to level your house above your house? It will be possible.
The game will weigh 2 petabytes of data. Rest assured, you will not have to make as much space on your SSD (only 150 GB) since the game will be played in streaming. However, it will be possible to download map pieces in order to play locally with the modeled landscapes.
It’s up to you to see what you will do with Flight Simulator: virtual tourism, tricks or even long journeys. Three types of gameplay are on the program: with small planes, with large aircraft and with fighter planes.
To play in better conditions, we can count on dedicated devices, like an Airbus joystick already presented by Thrustmaster. Others will certainly be announced in the future, the manufacturers will certainly bet this new title.
This post will be updated regularly based on new information about Microsoft’s game.