MSFS 2024: Explore Trails and Sunsets on Foot
Microsoft Flight Simulator already sounded impressive, but my excitement has reached new heights after hearing Asobo’s latest reveal: you’ll be able to step out of your plane, explore the landscape, and even watch the sunset in your favorite part of the world within this stunning digital recreation.
Jorge Neumann, the head of Microsoft Flight Simulator, shared this exciting news in an interview with PC Gamer. He emphasized just how much more detailed the world will be in Flight Simulator 2024 compared to its already remarkable predecessor.
For example, the team has enhanced every airport, added glider airports, and even included every oil rig and lighthouse across the globe. They’ve also introduced “hundreds of species of animals” and are simulating “every ship on Earth” using transponder signals-all of which, according to Neumann, you’ll be able to land on. “I think we’re entering a new era of game development, breaking new ground in terms of scale and complexity,” Neumann said.
Then there’s the topic of trees. Neumann had touched on this before, but now he’s revealing that Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has the capability to feature every tree on Earth. “We use machine learning to identify trees, even down to their species,” he explained. “We then plant literally trillions of trees, and it’s all done in real-time, making it incredibly accurate.”
But what really has me thrilled is the idea of disembarking from your aircraft. In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, you won’t just be a digital pilot in the sky; you can be a tourist on the ground too. “You can now exit the plane and walk around,” Neumann revealed. “You can literally hike your favorite mountain trail to a secluded cabin, sit by a lake, and watch the sunset. It’s truly a digital world you can immerse yourself in.”
Neumann also shared another detail that might even top the excitement of walking around. Unlike its storage-heavy predecessor, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 won’t take up nearly as much hard drive space.
“In 2020, the initial install was 130 GB,” Neumann explained. “With 17 world updates, that grew to 500 GB, and with 5,000 user add-ons, it could easily reach two terabytes. But for Flight Simulator 2024, we’ve changed all that. We’re using a thin client architecture, offloading more to the cloud. We’re aiming for an install size of 50 GB or less, while still delivering far more content.”
And there’s a lot to fit in. Asobo has confirmed an incredible array of activities for launch, including aerial firefighting, search and rescue, helicopter cargo transport, air ambulances, crop dusting, mountain rescue, skydiving, aerial construction, cargo transport, air racing, glider piloting, scientific research, low altitude training, experimental missions, airship tours, hot air balloon trips, plus VIP charter and executive transport services. And that’s not even touching on the wide variety of aircraft.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is set to release on PC and Xbox Series X/S on November 19th, so there’s still some time left to plan your digital adventures and prepare for takeoff.
