Developer Asobo Studio has revealed the release date for Microsoft Flight Simulator and three different editions, each with varying amounts of content. The 11th entry in the Microsoft Flight Simulator series and the first since 2006's Microsoft Flight Simulator X will come to PC on August 18.
There will be three different editions of the simulator: Standard Edition, Deluxe Edition and Premium Deluxe Edition. The editions are differentiated from each other by the amount of flyable planes and airports included.
The Standard Edition will contain 20 planes and 30 airports, the Deluxe Edition will have 25 planes and 35 airports, and the Premium Deluxe Edition will have 30 planes and 40 airports. All editions are now available for pre-ordering or pre-installing via Xbox Game Pass for PC.
While a release date for the Xbox One version of the game has not been confirmed yet, the August 18 release date for the PC version is very close. The simulator has been in alpha for the past nine months and is set to go into closed beta testing on July 30. It will be interesting to see what improvements Asobo Studio can make between now and August 18 using additional feedback from closed beta.
Another point to consider is whether each edition will have varying file sizes, considering that Microsoft Flight Simulator will have a file size of 150GB. If each edition has the same file size, then it seems like that it would be possible to upgrade an edition in-game. Considering that bandwidth was listed in the game's specs, the game should be online-only in order for it to remain constantly updated on navigation data.
With the signs that Microsoft FlightSimulator is a graphical powerhouse and that the alpha testing is going smoothly, it is assuring to know that Asobo Studio has more than likely maintained a high standard of visual fidelity for such a large amount of content going up to the Premium Deluxe Edition. The French developer has also promised the large enthusiast community that this latest entry in the Microsoft Flight Simulator series will be content creator-friendly, with a dedicated modding community being able to add even more to Asobo Studio's efforts.
Microsoft Flight Simulator will be available August 18 2020 for PC and later for Xbox One.
Source: Asobo Studio