Microsoft Flight Simulator truly feels like a next-gen game, 50 minutes of leaked gameplay footage

DSOGaming writes: "Jose Carlos has shared two videos from the tech alpha phase of Microsoft Flight Simulator. These videos showcase 50 minutes of brand new gameplay footage, and we strongly suggest watching them."

[Neonridr]

That sky detail is nuts.

[UltraNova]

Yeah its the most detailed sky box ever... this is a serious looker of a sim.

[FlyingFoxy]

At least people have no excuse not to have enough memory for these new games, RAM has been dirt cheap recently with the last few days of Amazon deals, 16GB 3200Mhz for just £54, hell i bought a spare kit myself even though i have a faster 32GB kit.

Prices are predicted to rise again soon, and DDR5 doesn't seem to be coming to desktops til at least late 2021 or 2022.

[yoshatabi]

TF. Been wanting to get ram for awhile and it's never that low in price

[RazzerRedux]

Bought 16 GB 3600MHz at in the US for $83. About 64 quid.

[FlyingFoxy]

lol @ the downvotes, here you go trolls https://www.hotukdeals.com/...

There were plenty of other deals as well. https://www.hotukdeals.com/...

[Obscure_Observer]

True next gen game.

I think Phil should acquire Asobo (as long Asobo is also interested, of course)

Make it happen, Phil. :)

[Ausbo]

Between flight simulator and plagues tale, it’s one heck of a talented studio for sure. They’d be crazy not to at least discuss it

[2pacalypsenow]

Can't wait for this.

[Blu3_Berry]

You can't deny how detailed this looks. It's extremely impressive. I don't care about simulator games but I do know there's a market for them and I can see this doing very well in general.

[TommyVercetti88]

X1X: 4k@60fps high textures
XSX: 4k@60/120fps ultra textures with Raytracing

[Spurg]

Hmmm...nah the next gen console won't be powerful enough to output something like 4k 120fps. It's gonna be more like 1080 120 FPS or 2k 120 fps

[Obscure_Observer]

@shaggy2303

Perfect!

[PixelOmen]

1440p is not 2K, that's a common misuse of the term. 2K is to HD what 4K is to UHD. 1440p is actually called QHD.

Regardless, I agree. 1080/1440p @ 120fps might be possible, but definitely not with raytracing. I don't think 4K@120fps will happen with or without raytacing.

[NecrumOddBoy]

And this douchebag uploads NDA content at 720p. If you are going to break the rules, at least give us quality.

[ProjectVulcan]

X1X: 4k@60fps high textures

Not a chance. I have played the current release on a high end PC and know how it runs. Even with a bunch of work Xbox One X is not going to run it that well. Underlying CPU and GPU is not fast enough, and the memory required is very high.

4K 30FPS at best, probably medium settings.

If the new Xbox console really does have a GPU faster than a 5700XT as some leaks posit then 4K 60FPS is a real possibility for that machine.

[TommyVercetti88]

Its going to be 4k@60fps with medium/high textures on X1X Microsoft told me.

[ProjectVulcan]

"Its going to be 4k@60fps with medium/high textures on X1X Microsoft told me."

It isn't and they didn't.

When Forza Horizon 4 was claimed by people like you it would be 4K 60FPS on Xbox One X I was the one who had also played it on PC early, and said not a chance, 30FPS for 4K at most.

I was right because I understand the game requirements and the hardware performance.

The only way that flight sim will run 4K and 60FPS on Xbox One X is if they smash all the settings down to the very bottom and even then it'll never be a solid 60FPS framerate. Even dynamic settings would struggle to keep this game anywhere near 4K on Xbox One X hardware performance. If you think dropping res down to like 1300p to keep 60FPS is still 4K. Which nobody does.

Me. Having played this game. You, having not, just based on your comments.

[ProjectVulcan]

Let me put it this way, on maximum settings, with a 9900k, 32GB of RAM and a 2080Ti it runs about 50FPS in 4K when you have a lot of objects on screen. Cities. Peak load.

Needless to say that's something like 4-6x the CPU performance of X1X and 3x the GPU performance. Quite easily 3 times the performance of Xbox One X across the board. Not to mention the very fast streaming performance of an SSD that X1X doesn't have.

You can expect performance and drivers to improve that by a reasonable amount in the next few months, but not dramatically so. 20 percent would be a nice and realistic gain for the final release. Optimistic even.

No matter if they go crazy with optimisation, no matter the dynamic settings and resolution X1X simply does not have the brute power for 4K and 60FPS with anything like high settings.

4K 30FPS, at best, with well reduced settings. Medium. 1080p 60FPS with the same settings should be viable.

Xbox Series X on the other hand- that is certainly possible. Knock a few settings back and optimise nicely 4K 60FPS or close to it is definitely on the table.

[NiteX]

You're going to be incredibly disappointed with the new Xbox with those high ass standards.

[TommyVercetti88]

@ProjectVulcan you played it on the pc not X1X only a few people did see the X1X gameplay. So don't be a ignorant peasant cause soon you will see it with your own eyes.

[RedDevils]

Yeah in 30fps lol

[ziratul]

XBOX SERIES X will hardly be able to play it at 1080p (if it ever gets it)

[mrmikew2018]

Very nice.....

[King_Noctis]

I enjoyed Euro Truck and American Truck Simulator. So can’t wait for this. There is something that make you feel so relaxed while playing these kind of games.

[RedDevils]

listening to trance music would be even better for this type.

[froy402]

Whoa that so impressively boring....

[2pacalypsenow]

Not the game for you.

[yoshatabi]

So it's not the game for you. Big whoop. Many others won't find it boring

[RedDevils]

More like many, as these type of game is like niche that only a few interest.

[harv052]

Well, that was a botched landing if I ever saw one lol!! Big fan of FSX, can't wait for this! Looks amazing!!

[timotim]

Thats because it is next gen! The techniques their using with this game is above and beyond what most sims even begin to think about...and the way their implementing features that even other games have is taking it to the...next level (pun intended).

[RazzerRedux]

That’s because it is PC!

[timotim]

No...not really. Its next gen because of their philosophy...their approach taken when making the game. PC, console...it doesn't matter...it will play the same on both. Visually it will look very much like this footage here on SX, and while it may not perform the same way on current gen consoles, it will have the same next gen thinking behind it.

[RazzerRedux]

Yes....really. Everything you see regarding FS at this point is entirely PC. This has nothing to do with consoles or “next gen”. Xbox version comes at a later date.

[timotim]

😄😄😄 To think that Asobo/Microsoft cant use the same approach to deploy the game to consoles is ridiculous. "Next gen" doesn't happen because you forced a game to a specific platform...next gen happens in the design process...PC or not. Their are already flight sims on PC right now that aren't "next gen", but there on PC. The tech being used in this game is what sets it apart from the rest...that same tech translates to console just as easily. In fact, with SX's talk of SSD tech, it will be even more capable on that platform. If you think Microsoft isn't currently working on the console counterparts to this game using the same thinking behind what you've seen of the game thus far, I dont know what to tell you.

[RazzerRedux]

I never said anything about how MS is going to deploy to consoles so you are using imagination to say things I didn’t say is ridiculous. I’m not going to pretend to know, unlike you. I’m going by what MS has stated emphatically. This is for PC. Xbox comes later and we can judge that version then.

[timotim]

Thats not saying much though haha. Example...Death Stranding was officially announced for PC 2 weeks before it hit shelves on PS4...doesn't mean they weren't working on both iterations at the same time even though one was clearly coming out later on. Do you think the PC version of the game is going to completely change its design philosophy just because its more capable than PS4???

MFS2020 was announced at the same time as coming to both PC and Xbox...sure, they have to rework things like text size and UI/UX elements for the console versions, but what youre implying is that it will be this vastly different game on console when most of the work is being done in the cloud anyway. Yes, what we have seen is the PC version only so far, but what about the design process is causing you to think it wont also be the same on console?

[RazzerRedux]

"Thats not saying much though haha. "

That it is coming later to Xbox? Not sure what you mean.

"Example...Death Stranding was officially announced for PC 2 weeks before it hit shelves on PS4...doesn't mean they weren't working on both iterations at the same time even though one was clearly coming out later on. Do you think the PC version of the game is going to completely change its design philosophy just because its more capable than PS4???"

I would think their approach would be to focus primarily on PS4 but make design decisions that make porting to PC easy at a later time, but I'm not sure. I never said anything about changing design philosophy. I have no idea what changes they have to do to port from one to the other. Neither do you. I know we have seen the PS4 version of Death Stranding. What is different from it and PC.....we don't know until we see the PC version.

" but what youre implying is that it will be this vastly different game on console when most of the work is being done in the cloud anyway."

I never said or implied FS will be "vastly different game on console". Not even a little bit. I said we are seeing the PC version. That is simply a fact.

The FS website explicitly says "Designed for PC, optimized for multiplatform support (e.g. Xbox)."

If FS was being designed for PC and Xbox it would say "Designed for PC and Xbox".

https://www.flightsimulator...

[timotim]

OK...so my original post still stands then in relation to the headline. It "feels" next gen because it is next gen! Its next gen in its design approach. Ill post it again just to be thorough.

"Thats because it is next gen! The techniques their using with this game is above and beyond what most sims even begin to think about...and the way their implementing features that even other games have is taking it to the...next level (pun intended)." - TimoTim

https://www.xbox.com/en-US/...

[RazzerRedux]

lol.....repeat all you want. This is still a PC game until further notice.

[timotim]

Wrong. It is an Xbox One console AND Windows 10 game until further notice...
https://www.xbox.com/en-US/...

[RazzerRedux]

The "until further notice" refers to the future release on Xbox. Thought you might be able to figure that out, but oh well.

[timotim]

Wrong again. Their must be some confusion on your part...ya see we've already gotten that notice haha...we've had that notice since the first announcement trailer of the game. Sure...things could always change, but as of right this second, it is a Xbox One/Windows 10 title.

Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean they aren't currently working on it...You know they are working on the PS5 because they've announced it...but that doesn't mean you've seen it yet...

EDIT: I know that one stung a little. But its the truth.

[RazzerRedux]

"Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean they aren't currently working on it...You know they are working on the PS5 because they've announced it...but that doesn't mean you've seen it yet...

EDIT: I know that one stung a little. But its the truth."

No idea why you think that would "sting". Doesn't matter. Tell you what. Let's break down what we absolutely know. Ok?

We know:

1) Microsoft Flight Simulator will release for PC and Xbox.
2) The PC version will be released first.
2) The Xbox version will be released at a later date.
3) Asobo has stated that the game is "Designed for PC, optimized for multiplatform support (e.g. Xbox)."

These are all factual statements. Beyond that is guesses and assumptions. Can we agree on this?

[timotim]

Sure...we can agree on that. My only question to you would be...what did I say in my original post that stated otherwise when talking about the game being "next gen"???

Just for the record..."Designed for PC and optimized for multiplatform" is the exact strategy I think many of XGS are taking at present.

[RazzerRedux]

Next gen for Microsoft is Xbox Series X. Obviously at some point FS will be on all current gen and next gen consoles. But where we differ, (and I'm going to try to phrase this in a way that doesn't send us back down the same rabbit hole) is I don't see FS as a console game at this point. I see it as PC game that will be on Xbox in the future. You obviously disagree with that. I think we have established where we differ and I'm fine leaving it at that.

You have the last word.

[timotim]

Im sorry to tell you this razzer...but you're wrong yet again.

Microsoft releases their games NATIVELY on both consoles and PC. Next gen doesnt mean SX only...not even to Microsoft. That implies their are no such next gen games for PC only...this simply isn't the case. Regardless however you feel about the game...Star Citizen is in fact a PC only (at present at least) next gen game and experience as an example. Even though its not made by Microsoft, It got that way because of its DESIGN APPROACH...not because of its platform.

For Sony, they only have the PS5 for next gen experiences at present...Microsoft doesnt see a single platform as such...they see their platforms (plural) as such. Windows 10 is included in that. This is why they can have a next gen game like MFS with next gen tech behind it and call it a next gen game...because it is haha. Its the games themselves that are next gen backed by the philosophy and technology they implore...not simply because they are the only one in exsistance for a specific "next gen" console. As Ive said before...Knack was a "next gen" title for PS4 from a technical sense...yet in reality it was more like a PS3 game in philosophy with a "next gen" coat of paint on top, visually. Asobo and Microsoft went with Windows 10 as its lead platform for development...mostly because of its roots in the franchise...but also because they knew they wanted a next gen experience and SX wasnt even a thing yet when development first started on the game. So they shot for a next gen experience from the gate using Windows 10 and will scale the game back as needed on consoles. Again, this is the strategy I think many XGS are taking at present.

Halo Infinite WILL be talked about as a "next generation" experience from Microsoft and Xbox. It will be on both consoles and PC...just like they knew they wanted MFS to be next gen when they started development, so did they know about Infinite. Slipspace Engine is a next generation engine designed with next generation approaches in mind as an example. It will be scaled back for current gen platforms.

Regardless of how you view MFS (console game or PC), it is a next gen experience designed that way from the onset. Thats all my post was saying. Why you took issue with that, I have no idea.

[xX1NORM1Xx]

hope so cause every current flight simulator looks like a 90s pc game... i know its more about physics and detail in terms of aircraft but its kinda hard to play for me because half the appeal of flying is seeing the world from a whole new perspective.

[whitbyfox]

Never had an XBox console in my life, i am definitely getting a Series X for this.

[TheHateTheyGive]

I cant wait to play this on my base vanilla xboxone!

[SegaSaturn669]

Can we fly over Iran?

[FlyingFoxy]

Rather lose money on my plane ticket than fly over the middle east.. In which case i wouldn't have booked a flight in the first place. Or on any plane for that matter.. hated them for a long time.

[Tedakin]

But I thought supporting previous gens would gimp new games on Xbox..... but I thought.....

[Morbid Bulldozer]

If it was exclusive to XSX, it would have self-conscious AI with mind-reading powers. You know, like PS5 launch titles will totally have, not being held back by PS4 versions and all. Just look at PS4 launch titles - Killzone was absolutely impossible to pull off on PS3, all those groundbreaking gameplay features, those fresh new ideas that would melt PS3s left and right if ever attempted on previous gen.

It's sad, really, how gimped MS Flight Simulator is, simply terrible.

[timotim]

😆😆😆 RIGHT!!!! Its mind boggling sometimes the things they come up with.

[Tedakin]

I'm sure you're very upset about how GIMPED this game is. It'll look just like this when it comes out on Xbox Series X. Plus aren't all third party games going to be cross gen probably for a year or 2? PS won't have any of their big franchises in the first year or 2 either. Maybe Gran Turismo. God of War, nope. Uncharted, nope. Last of Us, nope. Killzone isn't exactly a big franchise. It's a forgotten one.

[RazzerRedux]

This isn't on any Xbox. This is PC. Xbox version will come later so at this point none of this "console gen" mentality applies.

[BioShockGX]

So what's the goal in this game? Just flying and enjoy the world?

[NeoGamer232]

There are a lot of wannabe pilots out there. This game allows people to be that.

It is not a game. It is a simulation. There are farm, mechanic, construction, fishing, etc. simulators. This is a flight simulator. There are niche market people that want this stuff.

Personally, I might play it on GamePass a few times, but not really my kind of thing. That doesn't mean there aren't people that want this. Flight Simulator back in the 90's had a huge following. This is a library diversity title.

[AK91]

Next gen graphics certainly gameplay wise is pretty meh.

[FlyingFoxy]

I would personally get bored of this game, but obviously some people like that kind of thing so.. But i guess it would be interesting to at least try it with those flight sticks and stuff you can get, expensive though.

[ziratul]

This sim will be free for gamepass subscribers :P

[frostypants]

Uh...I hope in the final release flying into objects actually results in a crash. He clips right through buildings.

[sampsonon]

looks good, but also looks boring.

[jairusmonillas]

Looks great especially if you will only watch it on youtube because it is incredibly too boring for a game. lol

[Flewid638]

No....it doesnt

[CaptainHenry916]

My PC is ready for this

[Rimeskeem]

The xbox one's selling point was a TV/Gaming system. This xbox selling point so far is a flight simulator.

[sampsonon]

don't forget old games as well.

[NotanotherReboot]

try to keep up, SOny!!!

[sampsonon]

Sony is 4 laps ahead already. So what you see as them trying to keep up is actually them making a move to pass xbox again.

[Italiano1234567]

So u fly a plane...Thats fun..i know simulators have their fanbase but not for me. Maybe if i wanted to be a pilot or something wtf

[MeatyUrologist]

Looks next gen for sure, but until they are some sort of damage or crash physics it just seems odd to fly through buildings or just a "you crash screen" as the plane freezes in place. I realize the hardcore SIM people don't care about this, but I used to love games like IL-2 That had hardcore SIM physics and incredible damage modelling. Really would add a sense of tension to the scenarios.

[Az1ner]

That is beautiful. I wonder if asobo has finally joined xgs?😋

[The_Sage]

Everything looks great except the lightning. Something is off with it.