Microsoft Flight Simulator’s landscapes are hard to tell apart from the real thing

A series of images comparing Flight Simulator screenshots to their real-world counterparts.

[Kumakai]

the funny thing is, these are some of the first next gen graphics we've seen and nobody has said anything about it. all ray tracing support is already in, etc and there will be tons of data/texture streaming. Yes it will run on the xbox one too but not like the series x or pc will run it. also will be another showcase for smart delivery. ms is definitely got their sh*t together for gen 9

[RazzerRedux]

Well since this is being made first and foremost for PC, it shouldn't be surprising. So much of the tech, such as ray tracing and DLSS, has been available on PC for a year and a half.

[Obscure_Observer]

@Kumakai

"the funny thing is, these are some of the first next gen graphics we've seen and nobody has said anything about it."

Ideed. No "powah of da cloudz" jokes either.

Funny how fanboys are running their mouths on how MS is holding back game design by support Xbox consoles, when in fact, as far as presenting actual games goes, MS is the company that actually pushing innovation and next gen game design forward.

More stunning images

https://i.imgur.com/eQEi6qd...

https://i.imgur.com/8OEOV4J...

https://i.imgur.com/PLpsKE5...

https://i.imgur.com/uY6pHIc...

https://i.imgur.com/TX8TUbZ...

https://i.imgur.com/3EGbLI9...

https://i.imgur.com/z7P8hWv...

[Godmars290]

"Funny how fanboys are running their mouths on how MS is holding back game design by support Xbox consoles,"

Isn't that something MS promised if not mandated? That all games would be accessible on all available MS platforms day-one of release? If they're going back on that, which seems to be the case with this game and the Gears spin-off, aren't they just de-emphasizing the importance of their own console?

Complain about that one all you want, just remember while waiting for an actual Xbox announcement, that you're the one who pulled the chain when you didn't have to. That this is the. Exact. Same. Argument. That's happened with the likes of Crackdown 3. That it was MS who failed to live up to your defense and expectations.

[Obscure_Observer]

@Godmars290

"If they're going back on that, which seems to be the case with this game and the Gears spin-off, aren't they just de-emphasizing the importance of their own console?"

Dude, if you know something that we don´t, bring the sources to back up your claims, because, again, I think you made that up.

"That's happened with the likes of Crackdown 3. That it was MS who failed to live up to your defense and expectations"

Crackdown 3 had a convoluted development circle. Multiple third party studios. Too many problems.

Yes, the game failed to deliver on the hype even outside the cloud thing. Yet, MS didn´t give up on the cloud as a tool to bring innovation and new ways to push gaming design forward.

You can´t spin this no matter how hard you try.

[SierraGuy]

Xboxes showcase equivalent to the order 1886 and we all remember how "bad" that game was right?

Nobody will play this.

[Spurg]

By the end of nextgen, it will get closer to reality.

[Godmars290]

Only it doesn't need to. Not as an across the board standard.

[LoveSpuds]

I am more worried about the physics, flight modelling and depth of simulation, these are areas that previous Flight Sims relied on 3rd parties through mods and retail add-ons etc. In my experience, MS Flight Sims take a couple of years before they are decent 'simulators'.

[whitbyfox]

Yeah it can look as pretty as it wants but if it doesn’t feel right then there’s no point.

[LoveSpuds]

It is interesting to see how much excitement there is amongst console gamers given that the Flight Sim stuff has always been a relatively niche PC pursuit. I won't consider moving over to this until my PMDG add ons are compatible because in my experience the default planes are way too simplistic in Flight Sim.

Exciting all the same though, the idea of a sim looking this good with all my 3rd party aircraft, traffic and weather add-ons is really compelling.

[rainslacker]

Yeah. Love MSFS, but everything I've seen about it so far has been some of the planes available, and a bunch of screenshots showing how good the landscapes are. When you're flying at 30k feet, you wont need much detail in the landscape, and while landing or taking off, you're not likely to stop to admire the view.

It's like having a racing game and all they do is show off the graphics. Sure, they all do that now, but they still talk about more than that, and when you're driving, do you really pay attention to that stuff?

[LoveSpuds]

I agree duder, don't get me wrong, great graphics can certainly make a simulation more immersive, but it's often the other factors that can make or break that immersion.

[whitbyfox]

Game of the year.

[ShadowWolf712]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they announce that the landscapes were actually generated via satellite imagery?

[Psychotica]

They are but then it fills in the imperfections like grass, trees etc.

[WarCouncilGaming]

The tech behind this game is really mind blowing. I'm not sure how they could, but hopefully some of what they learned while developing the tech for this finds its way into other games in other genres. Either way, I feel like this game might also get a lot of people playing it that have never touched a flight sim, just to see it in action!

[_dangerclose_]

lol, no its not. It looks very good but anyone with working eyeballs can tell the difference.