Developer Asobo’s astonishing Microsoft Flight Simulator has now been bestowed with its colossal Game of the Year update, ushering in a plethora of complimentary additions along with its inaugural significant paid expansion, the competitive-multiplayer-centered Reno Air Races.
Beginning with the gratis enhancements, Flight Simulator’s 1.21.13.0 update brings forth a sum of five novel aircraft, some strikingly distinct from those witnessed in the base game. For instance, the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet marks Asobo’s maiden military jet, while the VoloCity represents its initial eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft, endowed with the ability for precise landings and touted as a prelude to the proper advent of helicopters in Flight Simulator in the coming year.
Furthermore, there exists a short takeoff and landing (STOL) utility aircraft in the guise of the Pilatus PC-6 Porter, in addition to the CubCrafters NX Cub – alleged to further amplify the simulator’s bush flying and off-airport alternatives – and the single-seat Aviat Pitts Special S1S.
Pilots can now also embark on visits to eight freshly handcrafted airports as they traverse the United States and Central Europe – specifically Leipzig/Halle Airport (EDDP), Allgäu Airport Memmingen (EDJA), Kassel Airport (EDVK), Lugano Airport (LSZA), Zurich Airport (LSZH), Luzern-Beromunster Airport (LSZO), Patrick Space Force Base (KCOF), and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (KNKX) – in conjunction with 14 fresh tutorial missions and six new Discovery Flights. The latter encompass Helsinki, Freiburg im Breisgau, Mecca, Monument Valley, Singapore, and Mount Cook.
And ultimately for the new augmentations, Flight Simulator now showcases 11 additional photogrammetry cities. In the UK, there are Brighton, Derby, Eastbourne, Newcastle, and Nottingham, and they are joined by Helsinki (Finland), Vers-Pont-Du-Gard, Chambord and Port-Vendres (France), Freiburg (Germany), and Utrecht (Netherlands).
All the aforementioned is accompanied by a multitude of simulator enhancements and quality of life advancements, such as a novel weather system, optional DX12 support, support for VR controllers on PC, and more, as elaborated in Asobo’s extensive release notes.
Microsoft Flight Simulator – Reno Air Races – Full Collection.
That, naturally, is not quite the culmination. Today also witnesses the debut of Flight Simulator’s substantial Reno Air Races expansion, which arrives in two varieties and at two distinct price points.
The first, simply denominated as the Reno Air Races: Expansion Pack, costs £16.74/$19.99 USD and introduces online multiplayer racing alongside four starter aircraft: the North American T-6 Texan, North American P-51 Mustang, Aero L-39 Albatros, and Aviat Pitts Special S1S. A second pack, the Reno Air Races: Full Collection, features those identical aircraft but in ten diverse variants each, resulting in a total of 40 options. This pack commands a price of £49.99/$59.99 USD, with both variants obtainable directly via Microsoft Flight Simulator’s in-game store.
Reno Air Races: Expansion Pack and Full Collection comparison chart.
Flight Simulator’s postponed free Top Gun: Maverick expansion is anticipated to arrive in tandem with its cinematic counterpart in “spring” of the subsequent year.
