Coming soon: Microsoft Flight Simulator Game of the Year Edition

Microsoft Flight Simulator: Game of the Year Edition coming November 18th!

It has been a fantastic journey since we launched Microsoft flight simulator on PC. The primary flight simulator audience immediately embraced the new experience, and with Xbox Game Pass for PC, a new audience of PC gamers was attracted who had never previously played a flight simulator before.

In July 2021, we launched Microsoft flight simulator on Xbox Series X | S and has welcomed millions of console players into the flight simulation experience. We have introduced new features such as Discovery Flights, extended tutorials, Flight Assistant, Map Labels, and Land Anywhere, which are meant to help newcomers successfully enter the world of Microsoft Flight Simulator. This version brought numerous improvements to the sim, including significant performance improvements that benefited the PC audience as well.

And the launch was just the beginning. Over the past 14 months, we've been delivering major monthly updates - six worldwide updates and six Sim updates that constantly improve the experience. And today we are pleased to announce the Microsoft Flight Simulator Game of the Year (GOTY) Edition. This new edition celebrates all the positive feedback, reviews and accolades obtained, but it is also a "Thank You" to our fans - old and new - who have made Microsoft flight simulator such a phenomenon.

Here's what's included in the GOTY edition:

New planes

We are adding 5 new aircraft to Microsoft flight simulator:

• Boeing F / A-18 Super Hornet: Our first military jet and a highly demanded feature by the community. The Top Gun: Maverick expansion will be out with the film next spring, but we wanted the simmers to have the opportunity to test their need for speed over the holidays.
• Volocity: We have collaborated with the well-known German company Volocopter, which is working on an eVTOL called "VoloCity", a vision for an urban air taxi. We worked closely with Volocopter's engineering team to develop an authentic version of the aircraft prototype for the simulator. This is our first aircraft capable of precise landings and is a teaser of what you can expect in 2022 when we plan to launch helicopters in the sim.
• Pilatus PC-6 Porter: This legendary short take-off and landing (STOL) utility aircraft is a highly versatile aircraft hailing from Switzerland and is equipped with several cockpits, cabins and landing gear variants. It is the result of our close collaboration with the manufacturer and the development efforts of renowned developers Hans Hartmann and Alexander Metzger have resulted in a fantastic and fun new aircraft with exceptional capabilities in the simulator.
• CubCrafters NX Cub: Yakima-based CubCrafters recently introduced a front wheel option for their flagship CC-19 XCub aircraft, popularly called the NX Cub, which we are pleased to introduce to the public in flight simulators to further enhance our flight options in the bush and out of the airport.
• Soon Pitts Special S1S: One of our most popular aircraft gets a single seat option with the release of this aircraft.

New airports

We are adding 8 craft airports in Central Europe and the United States:

• Germany
  • Leipzig / Halle Airport (EDDP)
  • Allgäu Memmingen Airport (EDJA)
• Switzerland
  • Lucerne-Beromunster Airport (LSZO)
• United States
  • Patrick Space Force Base (KCOF)
  • Air terminal of the Miramar Marine Corps (KNKX)

The release of the game of the year adds information on 545 previously disappeared airports in the United States.

New missions

Based on the popularity of the recently introduced Discovery flights, we are adding 6 more locations (Helsinki, Freiburg im Breisgau, Mecca, Monument Valley, Singapore and Mount Cook) to this popular series.

New tutorials

To further expand the onboarding experience, we're adding 14 new tutorials, introducing simmers to Bush flying (in an Icon A5) and IFR (in a Cessna 172).

New features

We are also pleased to introduce several features that are highly requested by the community: an updated weather system, early access to DX12 and a dev mode playback system.

New cities of photogrammetry

As part of our ongoing partnership with Bing Maps, we are delighted to add a number of new photogrammetric cities: Helsinki (Finland), Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany), Brighton, Derby, Eastbourne, Newcastle and Nottingham (UK) and Utrecht ( Holland).

Collaboration with Windows 11

To celebrate the launch of Windows 11, October 19 to November 18, we have selected 11 landmarks around the world that will be illuminated in blue Windows inside Microsoft flight simulator. Additionally, we're releasing a special Windows 11 themed livery for the EXTRA 330LT for simmers to add to their collection.

And most importantly, the Microsoft Flight Simulator Game of the Year Edition will be available as a free update for existing players on PC and Xbox Series X | S. For new users, the GOTY edition is the perfect entry point to the flight simulator as it offers an even richer experience and will be the item they will purchase while we are picking up the original.

We can't wait for you to try this expanded edition of Microsoft flight simulator on November 18. We invite you to invite your friends to experience the wonders of flight. Heaven is calling!

Microsoft flight simulator is now available on Xbox Series X | S with Xbox Game Pass, Windows 10/11 with Xbox Game Pass for PC and Steam.

For the latest information on Microsoft flight simulator, stay tuned to @MSFSOfficial on Twitter.