Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PS5 – 15 Key Details You Can’t Ignore

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The highly anticipated Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is launching on PlayStation 5 on December 8th, after taking off on Xbox and PC. The PS5 version offers the same comprehensive experience as the Xbox and PC versions. While there are some technical issues and areas for improvement on Xbox and PC, this guide focuses on what PlayStation 5 players need to know before they start flying. We’ll cover everything from exclusive features and enhancements to career modes, missions, aircraft, and more.

Full DualSense Integration

Microsoft Flight Simulator’s arrival on PlayStation focuses on creating a realistic experience, not just impressive graphics. The developers at Asobo Studio are fully utilizing the PS5’s DualSense controller to enhance immersion. The controller’s adaptive triggers will change resistance based on the aircraft’s speed, the surface it’s on, and the air around it. You’ll even hear Air Traffic Control instructions directly through the controller, and the built-in gyro, light bar, and customizable touchpad all work together to make you feel like you’re truly in the cockpit.

Additions to Career Mode

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 features a completely redesigned career mode, offering players a vast number of missions and activities around the globe. It’s especially helpful for those new to the game on PS5, with clear, easy-to-follow lessons to help aspiring pilots learn to fly various aircraft. You begin by earning a private pilot’s license, and then progress through more advanced aircraft, challenging missions, and eventually managing companies and fleets as you gain certifications and ratings. You’ll start with simple flights, but in MSFS 2024, there’s no limit to how far you can go.

Expanded Mission Types

Developing your skills and a strong reputation opens doors to specialized jobs in aviation. You could become a skilled pilot dropping water on wildfires or precisely applying pesticides to crops. You might also focus on efficient transport, delivering vital cargo or rushing injured patients to the hospital. Other options include search and rescue missions, aerial construction, or flying aircraft to new locations – and you can do all of this with various types of aircraft, from small planes to helicopters.

Largest Fleet Ever

Microsoft Flight Simulator is launching on PS5 with a fleet of 125 aircraft! You’ll be able to experience everything from the quick turns of small planes to the challenge of flying long-distance airliners, and even the speed of fighter jets. The game also features helicopters, futuristic electric planes (eVTOLs) that take off and land vertically, hot air balloons, gliders, and bush planes. To celebrate the launch, players will also have access to the brand-new Boom Supersonic XB-1, the first American civilian jet designed to break the sound barrier.

Full Global Simulation

For forty years, the Microsoft Flight Simulator series has aimed to realistically recreate the entire world. While MSFS 2024 intended to finally achieve this on Xbox and PC, technical problems have unfortunately impacted the visual experience. Now, Asobo Studio is bringing the series’ “fly anywhere” promise to PlayStation. They plan to include every continent, 40,000 airports and runways, and over 60,000 helipads – from places like Preston, England, to the Pyramids – at any time of day, with live, real-world air traffic, all rendered in beautiful detail. However, it’s worth noting that we won’t know if the PS5 and PS5 Pro versions will have the same issues until the game launches on December 8th.

No Crossplay

Flying simulations are generally a single-player experience, so how you enjoy it will likely differ from other players. Also, players on PlayStation 5 won’t be able to play with those on other systems. The PS5 version operates as a separate community, meaning competitive features like the new Challenge League will pit you against other PS5 players only. However, Challenge League offers fun content like rally races and landing challenges. If the PS5 version of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is successful, there will still be plenty of opportunities to compete and climb the leaderboards.

No Cross-Save

The game won’t let you transfer your progress or purchases to PlayStation 5 from Xbox or PC. This means if you switch to PS5, you’ll have to start a new game and buy any add-ons, planes, or scenery again. This could be frustrating for players who have spent a lot of time and money on the game on other platforms. While Microsoft and the developers likely don’t expect a huge number of players to switch to PlayStation, it’s understandably disappointing for those who own both PC/Xbox and PS5 and were hoping for a seamless experience. If that describes you, it’s reasonable to feel let down.

Complete Access to Marketplace on PS5

Let’s imagine every PS5 player is starting Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 fresh – what can they expect from the game’s add-on community? It’s a very active scene! You can buy and download content from both official and independent creators, and a “My Library” feature helps you keep track of everything you’ve purchased. Creators regularly update their content and participate in a partnership program, ensuring you always have access to high-quality additions for your game. However, the community has mixed feelings about the overall quality of the marketplace – some add-ons are excellent, while others aren’t as good. If you’re new to the marketplace and want to find the best options, checking Reddit or the MSFS forums is a great idea.

VR Support Incoming

Support for PlayStation VR2 is coming as a free update in 2026. While an exact release date hasn’t been announced, players on PC have praised VR as a revolutionary experience, so this is a welcome addition worth anticipating. As with the non-VR versions on Xbox and PC, there have been some reported technical issues, particularly with mouse controls. However, the detailed graphics and realistic flight experience in the PSVR2 version should hopefully overshadow any minor problems.

Four Game Editions

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will come in four versions: Standard, Deluxe, Premium Deluxe, and Aviator. Each version offers increasing amounts of content. The Standard Edition includes 70 aircraft and 150 custom airports, plus 30 new aircraft for MSFS 2024, as well as improved planes and airports from the previous version, MSFS 2020. The Aviator Edition, the most comprehensive, boasts 125 aircraft and 160 airports. The Deluxe Edition features 80 aircraft, and the Premium Deluxe version has 95. You can find a detailed breakdown of the content in each edition on the PlayStation Store. Prices range from $69.99 / £69.99 for the Standard Edition to $199.99 / £199.99 for the Aviator Edition. A physical disc version will also be available.

Pre-Order Bonuses

Anyone who pre-orders Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PlayStation 5 will get the Northrop T-38A Talon aircraft for free. This supersonic jet was a key training tool for US Air Force pilots in the 1960s and continues to be used by pilots and NASA worldwide. If you pre-order the Deluxe, Premium Deluxe, or Aviator Edition, you’ll also get to start playing five days early, beginning December 3rd.

Filesize is Surprisingly Light 

It’s surprising, given the incredible detail, that the game only needs 50GB of space. However, there’s a catch: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will require a constant internet connection to play. The game downloads and displays the world in real-time, and this is where many of the initial problems have been traced. Even if you buy a physical copy, you’ll still need to download parts of the game digitally and stay connected to the internet. On a positive note, you won’t need a Microsoft account or Gamertag to play on PlayStation 5.

Feature Parity

Although the PlayStation 5 version of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 arrived a year after the Xbox and PC versions, all versions of the game have the same features. PlayStation players will receive the same ongoing support and updates as players on other platforms.

PS5 Pro Enhancements

We don’t have many specifics yet about how the PS5 Pro will improve the game, but considering the console’s power, we can anticipate better graphics and faster loading. Faster loading times are especially important, as slow loading has been a common issue with the Xbox and PC versions.

Accessibility and Assisted Control Features

The PS5 offers a range of accessibility options. Players can customize visuals by reducing camera shake and turning effects on or off for comfort. Audio cues can also be displayed visually, in addition to being heard through the controller. For controls, players can remap buttons, adjust stick sensitivity, invert stick movement, and disable features like rapid button presses, motion controls, touch controls, vibration, and adaptive triggers. These options aim to make gaming more inclusive for players with disabilities.

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2025-12-02 21:13