One of the surprise announcements at the recent Xbox Games Showcase was the reveal of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, the sequel to one of 2020's highest-rated releases. Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of gaming's longest-running franchises, with the very first entry in the series released all the way back in 1982.
Microsoft Flight Simulator came back in a massive way with 2020's Microsoft Flight Simulator game. First releasing on PC and then making its way to Xbox Series X/S consoles a year later, Microsoft Flight Simulator earned near-universal critical acclaim with an incredible 92 overall average critic rating according to review aggregate site OpenCritic. It will take a lot for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 to outdo its predecessor, but what's been shown so far looks nothing short of jaw-dropping.
The Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 trailer at the Xbox Games Showcase has turned heads for its ridiculously high-quality graphics. When it launches in 2024, it's safe to say that Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will be launching with some of the absolute-best graphics the industry has seen so far. It offers photo-realism and a gargantuan world for players to practice their aviation skills, and it seems to offer even more than a cutting-edge simulation experience by adding some more varied objectives to the mix.
This time around, players will be battling wildfires, conducting search and rescue operations, transporting cargo, serving as an air ambulance, and a lot more. It looks like Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is taking the incredible base established by the 2020 game and building on top of it to create something that could potentially be more engaging to a wider audience.
Even though Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 earned rave reviews from critics, there's no denying that it is still a niche game. Many gamers simply aren't interested in super-realistic simulators like this. By giving players a wider variety of tasks to complete, perhaps Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will have greater appeal.
Of course, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 still has to prove itself. What's been shown looks nothing short of amazing, but it has a serious uphill battle if it hopes to earn as much acclaim as its predecessor. Regardless, it should be a significant release for the Xbox Game Pass subscription service, as Game Pass subscribers will be able to try Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 without making any kind of big financial commitment. It being a niche kind of game makes Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 the perfect game for a day one Xbox Game Pass release, and it will be exciting to see how it stacks up come next year.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 launches 2024 for PC and Xbox Series X.
Source: OpenCritic