Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 immerses players in a virtual recreation of Earth that’s truly awe-inspiring. Despite some hiccups at launch, it holds the promise of thrilling flight experiences and endless exploration.
I vividly recall Christmas of 1982. We had just received our very first computer, an IBM PC Jr, and I was earnestly hoping one of those beautifully wrapped packages contained the new Flight Simulator game from an up-and-coming company called Microsoft. Christmas morning arrived, and as I tore through the presents eagerly, I realized there was no sign of the Flight Simulator under the tree.
With a knowing smile, my father suggested I power up the computer to show him the program I’d been buzzing about. As I fired up the PC, I was drawn to the sight of a floppy disk in the drive. After a few anxious moments, my 13-inch monitor displayed a primitive yet thrilling cockpit view, complete with a basic instrument panel and a line-drawn horizon.
At that moment, in the mind of a 12-year-old, I was a pilot in command, flying high in a virtual sky.
Fast forward to the present, 42 years later, and launch day for Flight Simulator 2024 felt like waiting at an airport terminal, as I spent hours attempting to connect to Microsoft’s servers.
Finally, when I managed to get into the cockpit, I was met with a stunning digital version of our planet, thanks to advanced cloud tech that, ironically, caused many of the initial delays. With authentic biomes and real-time weather, MSFS 2024 stretches the boundaries of traditional flight simulators. Asobo’s earlier release, Flight Simulator 2020, set the bar with real-time weather and traffic data on land, sea, and sky, and this iteration builds on that foundation remarkably. During a recent overflight of New York City, raindrops streaked my cockpit windows right as UploadVR’s Ian Hamilton texted to confirm it was indeed raining outside.
Exploring its Free Flight mode, I embarked on picturesque flights over famed skylines like New York’s, Las Vegas’s dazzling lights, and the familiar streets of my hometown. Each journey offered stunning visuals, emphasizing the simulator’s potential for boundless exploration and realism from high up.
There are several play styles to explore, from curated photography to challenges, and even taking on the role of a virtual pilot. However, career mode remains elusive for now; though it launches, selecting a starting airport seems impossible. Microsoft and Asobo are undoubtedly hard at work rectifying this issue.
The game also features Red Bull Air Racing, which tests even the most seasoned virtual pilots. Despite frequent crashes, the thrill of navigating tight, fast-paced courses is addictive, pushing me to improve after each mishap.
An exciting addition this year allows players to land and explore on foot, adding layers to the experience. While street-level mapping remains rough around the edges, improvements promise a future where high-detailed streets in any city might be just a virtual landing away. Yet, don’t hold your breath just yet for that level of realism in this franchise.
For those with RTX series NVIDIA GPUs, DLSS enhances performance, yet the game’s complexity demands a powerful PC, particularly in busy cityscapes. My setup, with an Intel i9 13900k processor, 64 gigs of DDR5 RAM, an ASUS ROG motherboard, and a Zotac 4090 GPU, handles it, but even then, dense areas test this high-performance machine to its limits. Players without such hardware should consider lowering graphics settings to avoid significant performance drops.
Running the game with my specs, I still noticed performance dips in crowded skies with VR settings on ultra. Performance is expected to improve with updates, akin to the 2020 edition, but in the meantime, those with less powerful systems may need to opt for lower settings.
Ultimately, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 transcends being just a game, offering a new generation of budding aviators the opportunity to fulfill their flight fantasies in a continually evolving virtual universe.
