Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Reaches New Heights Following Rocky Start

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 invites players into an incredibly detailed virtual version of our planet, offering an astounding level of realism that’s hard to match. Despite some early technical hiccups at launch, it promises thrilling aviation escapades and boundless exploration opportunities.

I can’t help but think back to Christmas of 1982, filled with anticipation as we had just acquired our trusty IBM PC Jr. I was crossing my fingers, hoping beyond hope that one of those beautifully wrapped gifts was the new Flight Simulator game from a relatively unknown company at the time—Microsoft. But alas, as the wrapping paper settled that day, there was no game box in sight.

Then, my dad gave me a knowing smile and suggested, “Why don’t you fire up the computer and show me that new thing you’ve been so excited about?” As I rushed to the PC and turned it on, there it was—a floppy disk waiting in the drive. A few moments later, a simple instrument panel and a line-drawn horizon appeared on the small 13-inch screen, and in that instant, twelve-year-old me was soaring through the skies.

Fast forward 42 years to the launch day of Flight Simulator 2024, and once again I found myself playing a waiting game—but this time, grounded in a virtual queue to connect to Microsoft’s servers, which might as well have been a digital airport lineup for nearly eight hours.

Once I eventually made it into the cockpit, I was treated to a stunning digital representation of our Earth. Powered by advanced cloud-based technology—ironically, the potential source of the server delays—the game comes alive with true-to-life landscapes, weather, and new career paths. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 elevates the expectations for flight simulators, integrating real-time weather, traffic, and geological data as seamlessly as its predecessor from 2020. In a test flight over New York City, rain tapping against my virtual cockpit windows mirrored the actual weather conditions, as confirmed by UploadVR’s Ian Hamilton.

Free Flight mode lets you explore iconic cityscapes like New York City or the vibrant allure of Las Vegas, as well as the familiar vistas of your own hometown. Each journey is a feast for the eyes, highlighting the game’s potential for limitless exploration and a realism that’s deeply satisfying from above.

Other gameplay modes offer varied experiences, including artful aerial photography and high-stakes challenges, along with the opportunity to embrace a digital career as a pilot. Sadly, the career mode seems to have hit a snag, leaving me unable to select a starting airport. Undoubtedly, Microsoft and Asobo are working hard to iron out these kinks.

Red Bull Air Racing makes a thrilling return in this edition, promising steep challenges that can test even the most skilled aviators. Although failure greeted me more often than not in this segment, the sheer adrenaline of zipping low to the ground kept me pushing forward and improving with each attempt.

Breaking new ground, the 2024 version also lets players venture on foot after landing, enriching the gameplay experience. However, while promising, the tech still stumbles with street-level mapping. But with continuous advancements, there’s hope for a future where we can wander through incredibly detailed streets anywhere on the globe—just give it some time.

Running Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 requires a powerhouse of a PC, especially when venturing into densely packed environments. Equipped with NVIDIA’s DLSS technology, the game offers enhanced performance for those with an RTX series GPU. However, even high-end setups, like mine with an Intel I9 13900k, 64 gigs of RAM, and a beefy NVIDIA 4090 GPU, can feel the strain if settings are pushed to the extreme.

During my hands-on time with the game—mostly using a Meta Quest 3 headset connected via a Link cable—I found that high air traffic areas still posed performance demands. If your rig isn’t quite top-of-the-line, you might consider keeping graphic settings low and possibly disabling some features like antialiasing for better playability. Like its predecessor, optimization updates should enhance performance down the road, but for now, dialing things back can lead to a smoother experience.

In essence, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is more than a mere game; it’s an open invitation for both new and seasoned virtual pilots to fulfill their dreams, exploring a digital world that’s rich and gradually expanding with endless possibilities.