The CEO of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 explains how the team achieves "approximately 4,000 times" more detail than the previous version.
Is it the most realistic flight simulator so far?
Microsoft Flight Simulator has captured the attention of aviation enthusiasts since its release in 2020, setting a standard with its large-scale three-dimensional representation of Earth, real-time weather effects, and an exceptionally realistic flight physics model. The visual quality of the game transformed the experience of discovering new destinations or returning to familiar places into something truly magical.
Today, the developer studio Asobo Studio has released Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, available for PC, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S, sparking excitement among virtual pilots worldwide. In anticipation of the launch, Asobo's CEO, Sebastian Wloch, shared insights about the key innovations in this new installment.
Wloch mentioned that players who already owned content from the previous game could automatically transfer their aircraft and airports, and he added that there are also many new aircraft that have been enhanced with a renewed flight model. The evolution in the definition of the aircraft is notable, featuring more precise details and improved engine simulations, providing a more authentic experience for dedicated pilots.
In addition to the improvements in the aircraft, loading times and disk space usage have also been optimized. Wloch highlighted that the initial installation of the new game is significantly smaller, around 30 GB, compared to 130 GB from the previous version, making it easier for players to dive into the game more quickly.
New features include new modes of transportation, such as balloons and helicopters, accompanied by a new physics engine that simulates all the elements connecting them. Relevant visual changes have also been introduced, such as improvements in texture resolution and terrain modeling, using artificial intelligence to create landscapes that are more true to reality.
One of the most anticipated features is the seasonal change, which adds an extra level of immersion to the game by allowing vegetation and landscapes to reflect the different seasons of the year, creating a visually dynamic environment.
Additionally, animal models that interact realistically in their environment have been added, in collaboration with the creators of Planet Zoo. On the other hand, human characters have been diversified, providing a richer experience for players from a new career mode with millions of possible missions.
The experience of the Asobo team has also expanded, incorporating professionals with aviation experience to add greater authenticity to the game. Wloch believes that in terms of realism, the simulator scores an eight out of ten, although he acknowledges the inherent limitations of a simulation compared to the experience of flying a real airplane.
As Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 launches and players begin to explore, it will be interesting to see how these innovations transform the way virtual flight is experienced.
