With Microsoft Flight Simulator scheduled for release later this year, the MSFS team is gearing up to continue revealing the new platform’s features and capabilities. This release will provide simmers with major improvements to their virtual flight experience from the comfort of their own home, improving interoperability with an increasingly accurate recreation of the “digital twin” of our world that made a huge impression when MSFS 2020 was released nearly four years ago.
This year at FlightSimExpo, the MSFS team lifted the veil a little further and revealed what’s in store for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Here are some of the highlights from their presentation!
Successes and sustainable development
Jörg Neumann, head of Microsoft Flight Simulator, began by thanking the community, saying, “Thank you for trusting us with this hobby.” He announced that MSFS 2020 now has over 15 million unique users and over a billion flight sessions. Neumann also assured the community that support for MSFS 2020 will continue, with almost monthly updates planned until 2028.
New features and improvements
Jorg called MSFS 2024 “the largest and most complex flight simulator ever,” with 800 developers currently working on it. The new simulator will feature a fully three-dimensional ground environment and use Azure AI to create detailed landscapes with trees, rocks and grass. This is a significant step up from MSFS 2020, which, according to Asobo’s Sebastian Wloch, features a 2D ground “with a texture” on top.
The integration of Real-time ray tracing will improve lighting and shadow effects and provide more realistic images. Seb examined a screenshot from the MSFS 2024 trailer and found that the shadows of the buttons are “much sharper” than those of the window due to ray tracing.
Improved photogrammetry provides greater accuracy in terrain and structure modeling, while extensive rendering and lighting overhauls further improve visual fidelity. Additionally, dynamic interactions with environmental elements such as grass, vegetation, and water create a more immersive experience.
Expanded aircraft and partnerships
Several new aircraft have been confirmed for MSFS 2024. The A330-200 and -300 from iniBuilds will be equipped with both GE and RR engines. The Twin Otter from Aerosoft has been almost completely rebuilt with improved systems. Particularly noteworthy is a Boeing 737 MAX 8which is described as the most complex aircraft Asobo has developed to date, will be integrated into the base simulator. Neumann stressed the importance of working with the community, stating: “MSFS is being developed for the community and with the community.”
New game mechanics
MSFS 2024 will introduce new mechanics such as Toursa feature that was audibly applauded and cheered in the FsExpo hall, with Jorg appearing to celebrate the reaction. The ability to walk around also means that a pre-flight inspection can be carried out outside the aircraft, including the removal of covers.
A Advanced flight plannerwhich is accessible via various platforms, offers detailed route planning. The weather systems have been improved with cirrus clouds and wake turbulence effects, providing a more realistic flight experience. The playback function has also been improved.
Improved realism and interactivity
The new simulator will feature dynamic interactions with environmental elements. Rope physics and moving vegetation have been modeled, while people walking around airports add to the immersive atmosphere. Water and waves are rendered in 3D and sky rendering has been improved for more lifelike atmospheric effects. MSFS 2024 will also support new biomes and animals, realistic seasonal changes, and the Aurora Borealis.
The movement of vegetation is affected by aircraft, and a new engine simulates cloth and fabric materials and improves objects such as balloons. This new engine also improves the Red Bull Air Race Package; the pylons between which the planes fly are “fully simulated,” according to Seb, adding that you can “fly through them and tear them apart.”
Development partnerships
The MSFS team has announced several partnerships to expand the simulator. iniBuilds will create aircraft for the official Red Bull Air Racing partnership, Global Ship AI Traffic will provide real-time positioning data for ships and PuffinFlight will improve the visual flight rules (VFR) experience. Fabio from FlightControlReplay will improve replay features and Got Friends will develop the optica and avionics for gliders, including the Stemme S12G, a project they announced some time ago that will be integrated directly into MSFS 2024.
Diploma
The presentation at FlightSimExpo 2024 showcased the ambitious scope of MSFS 2024, which aims to redefine flight simulation. With a robust roadmap and extensive community involvement, the future of MSFS looks incredibly bright. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is set to launch on November 19th and promises an unprecedented virtual flight experience. Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the release date.
