Microsoft Flight Simulator is a true graphical showcase for Xbox Series X|S

Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S serves as an impressive technical showcase, with impressive results, especially on the $299 console.

[Gunstar75]

Downloading as we speak...type...

[Vx_]

Had this n PC when it first came out, one of the most boring games I’ve ever played, deleted after a week or so.

[iplay1up2]

This game is a true current gen showcase! The entire world, real time air traffic and weather. I watched a 30 min YouTube video, about the making of this. The effort the developers went through to make this Sim as authentic as possible is outstanding!

[ArmorOfGod]

PS5 & Series X owner here - I feel like this is the first “truly” next gen experience that couldn’t be done on last gen consoles. There are some neat bells and whistles on the other “current gen only” exclusives but nothing that couldn’t be pulled back just a bit to get the games working on last gen. This game simply could not be done on last gen hardware. Beyond impressive.

[generic-user-name]

How would you 'pull back' the 'neat bells and whistles' in R&C without destroying the flow of the game? And what is it about Microsoft Flight Simulator that couldn't be done on last gen considering it can run on some modest PCs as long as the graphic settings aren't turned up to ultra?

[Ausbo]

@generic
I’m not going to speak on ratchet, but Microsoft flight sim would not be possible on the Jaguar cpus from last gen. They’ve said as much, and the game is very cpu intensive.

[yeahokwhatever]

ummm lol huh?

[DJStotty]

@generic-user-name

"How would you 'pull back' the 'neat bells and whistles' in R&C without destroying the flow of the game?"

1 - Loading screens
2 - Remove RT
3 - Remove higher quality assets

There is always a way to get a game running by scaling back/porting.

[ufo8mycat]

@generic Ratchet could easily work on last gen.
- Remove Ray Tracing
- Lower resolution
- Lower texture/lighting detail

Done
Albeit, it would run at 30fps and there would be loading in between worlds, but it would still run fine.

And this isn't to take anything away from Ratchet, as the game looks and runs amazing!

As for Flight Sim, probably be more difficult and it wouldn't because of how CPU intensive it is, but I have zero interest in it. I don't find those types of "games" fun.

[outsider1624]

Is playing with just a controller good enough for these kind of sims? Would a flight stick and yoke be worth it?

[yeahokwhatever]

I play it on my PC with an xbox controller. Its fine, controller works pretty great. Kinda gets boring after you've flown around all the places you know... still a neat game though. A BIT overhyped in the recent news, obviously a marketing push.. I'm sure its more fun with the proper inputs, just like racing games. :-)

[StoneyYoshi]

So from what I read the quality of the environment will depend on your internet speed unless you want to double the games file size for offline mode but still have a lower quality experience, the controller options are gimped compared to PC until later this year, UI is clunky and unintuitive for a controller, No performance mode on XSX... Slower paced game or not, a simulation game always feels better at higher frame-rates. its a good way to get your feet wet in this game if you don't have a proper PC to play it but for myself, I'll just stick to playing this on PC when I choose to play around with it.

[iplay1up2]

High end PC's don't run this game much better than Series X.

[StoneyYoshi]

Thats not really true after the latest performance patch they released. This was Asobo's comparison video about it running a i79700k and a 2060 super. The performance has doubled in the comparison. https://youtu.be/LO2n8RdSMf...

Disagree all you want. this video link proves you and anyone else that disagrees wrong. 😃

[Fntastic]

False, as StoneyYoshi said you can get near 60FPS now even with a low-end GPU and a mid-end CPU thanks to the optimisation update.

[Rude-ro]

Pc’s are only capable of what the software allows…
Your point makes no sense

[Jericho1337]

“From what I read…” you can stop right there then and wait for people who’ve played it to report back.

[StoneyYoshi]

Ive played it on PC. I have no reason to have a XSX to play it when I have better performance on PC.
And to be fair, what I read was from someone who played it and they reported it in this article...

[iplay1up2]

Uh,you do know ALL Xbox consoles have keyboard and mouse support. They also support flight sticks.

[StoneyYoshi]

Im aware of keyboard and mouse support. But I will admit I was mistaken about the lack of flight stick support. Thats what happens when you skim lol. However, I still stand by my statement and factual evidence about 60FPS being possible on PC's now VS on XSX.

[Father__Merrin]

What are the graphics like up close or do you have to download packs for that. Il be trying it out myself tomorrow

[LM1213]

what happens if you try to land on the water?

[Rude-ro]

There is no landing besides runwaysj

[iplay1up2]

That is completely WRONG! You can land on H20, as well as other surfaces! Why comment if you don't know what you are even talking about? Go to YouTube and watch the planes land!

Microsoft painstakingly made all planes as authentic as possible! They even scanned all of them. If it can land on water in real life it can also in game!

[Gamer75]

There are float planes in the game so yes there is water landings

[Tedakin]

I saw a video of a plane doing a water landing. It was obviously a plane designed to do that.

[glennhkboy]

But I'm also interested to try crush-land a jumbo jet like A330 on water........

[DJStotty]

@Ruder-ro

"There is no landing besides runways"

(Game contains water planes).... erm..... but..... nevermind

[tbagmonster]

you can land on water with certain planes

[mudakoshaka]

You will just crash and the menu will come up, if you ”land” on water with a Boeing. So no submersion or such under water. If you use the plane that can land on water, then you can land on almost any water surface and almost ride like a motorboat. I do it in Dubai’s waters often.

[TheOtherMoon]

Tomorrow morning I hope to be flying a jumbo-jet full of rubber dog-sh!t out of Hong Kong. WHOO!

[frostypants]

I was worried "windowscentral" would be too harsh.....

[Tedakin]

No harsher than PSU or any of the PS centric fair and balanced review sites.

[aconnellan]

*game comes out and is good*

frostypants:”why aren’t they saying it’s bad??”

[46player]

Now compare that to Spider-Man. Xbox exclusive vs Sony exclusive. This is why PS5 sells 2-1 more units.

[iplay1up2]

When we're any of us talking about Spiderman? Does Spiderman, on PS5 have real-time weather? Real time Air traffic? Every single plane digitally scanned with extremely accurate flight controls? Does Spiderman have an almost completely accurate depiction of the entire WORLD?

Please tell us all how fantastic Spiderman is compared to an accurate depiction of almost EVERY AIRPORT and location, in the entire world. Fanboy!! Spiderman, compared to the most advanced Sim ever created! LMAO!

[RedDevils]

That because it a simulation lol please go argue with a brick.

[KillBill]

The reason PS5 has sold more than Series S|X is simply stock and little more. Currently each system will sell as many consoles as are offered up.

[StoneyYoshi]

Meanwhile people are finding a good amount XSX|S consoles sitting on store shelves. John linneman actually tweeted a pic of a local store with like 20 XSS consoles in stock. Each system will sell the amount that consumers are wanting.

[Tedakin]

You can play Xbox exclusives on PC and your phone. That's a reason it sells more as well. If Sony put their entire catalogue on PC day one, their console sales would plummet.

[iplay1up2]

Funny, PS sales would "plummet" , if released on PC day 1. Yet Most Xbox games are available on pretty much all platforms, and Game Pass day 1. Yet Xbox Series sales are blowing 360 sales out of the water.

The next 6 months Xbox has a TON of hard hitters releasing. Game Pass day 1. Halo and Forza 5 are probably the biggest. The Ascent, The Gunk, Left 4 Dead, 12 Minutes, Scorn, Shredders, Hades, PsycoNauts 2, Saber, Art of Rally, and Age of Empires 4.

Great time to have Game Pass! Finally a ton of games and a lot of Xbox Family exclusives!

Oh and I still want a PS5, but am more than happy now, to wait until I find one at MSRP. Xbox is blowing PS5 out of the water. Forbidden West, was my most wanted game this year, but looks like it won't come out till next year. GOW, next year. There are literally 3 games I would love to play on PS5 this year. Now Xbox has 7 I can't wait to play THIS YEAR.

[Orchard]

Spider-man is a last gen game… this is a truly next gen game that pushes the boundaries - not only in rendering but in terms of the live service data and streaming in world data from the cloud.

But since you asked me to compare them I will. Flight Sim is a 92 metacritic and SMMM is an 85.

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

Lol Spider Man? Really? That PS4 game? Who the hell is still playing that? I beat that game in about 6 hours then deleted it. C'mon man you can troll better than that right? You over there comparing a dressed up PS4 game turned PS5 that "supposedly" was a PS5 exclusive to Flight Simulator? Lol

[JackBNimble]

Oh and here we go with the arrogant ps5 comments downplaying anything MS.

Sorry but spiderman isn't next gen bro, I can play it on my ps4, and no you can't play flight simulator on last generation consoles. And when it does come to xbox one you'll have to stream it to play .

I can see this gen going for Sony the way the 7th gen went for the 360 ... at least that's my prediction.

[anast]

Trying to sell the Series S "19.99" does this simulator a disservice. It's a shame that the writer had to infomercial this article.

[Orchard]

Where do I get a Series S for under $20? That sounds like a crazy bargain.

[Tedakin]

Shoot, I'll take 20 of them at that price.

[XxINFERNUSxX]

4K Ultra RTX 3090 https://www.youtube.com/wat... this is the best you will get now, not quite 60fps, it would even drop more if you added in reshade but it would look much better. AMD & Nvidia's next gen GPUs should do much better. .😀

[leejohnson222]

Is this a year old on pc?