An Oldie But a Goldie: How to Play Flight Simulator on your Xbox

Players have been taking to the skies and reaching new heights with the Microsoft Flight Simulator since 1982. That’s right this stunning piece of software is even older than Windows and has successfully managed to capture the imagination of aviation enthusiasts and casual gamers alike for the last 41 years.

Although the game has always done a great job of simulating the inside of a plane, the graphics of the outside world have left much to be desired, bearing a striking resemblance to lumpy papier-Mache. However the latest rendition, developed by Asobo Studio and published by Xbox Game Studios, features incredibly realistic graphics and accurate depictions of real-world locations, truly setting a new standard for flight simulation games.

In fact, they don’t only look real, most of them actually are as the game makes use of satellite images and photogrammetry, giving players a taste of the great big world including their latest addition, New Zealand. Yes, that’s right for the first time in the simulator’s four-decade history you can probably even find your home. From the Eiffel Tower to Mount Fuji, this new feature will also enable pilots to navigate how they would in real life by following landmarks, continuing to captivate aviation enthusiasts for years to come.

There’s something about classic games that invoke those warm feelings of nostalgia, and this Xbox gem is no different. Indeed, even if we look at other types of games like those available at online casinos, you’ll find many titles like Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest and Book of Ra (amongst many others!). And apart from the entertainment factor, just like Xbox games, many of these titles come with no deposit free spins, so players who don’t want to spend a dime needn’t worry!

Whether you're a seasoned pilot or a newcomer to the world of aviation, the Microsoft Flight Simulator is an experience like no other, and it is certainly worth checking out. Here are our tips on how to master the iconic game.

Get Started

They say you need to walk before you run, and in this case you need to install the game before you fly. First you will need to open your Xbox Game Pass app and look up the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, then click install. The game is almost 100GB to download onto Xbox Series S and Series X consoles, but there is an “offline mode” that can help you reduce the amount of storage it takes up should you require it.

Find Your Features

Just like when you are decorating your home, Flight Simulator lets you tailor your experience to suit your needs. Take some time to go through the settings menu and discover how you want your cockpit to look and feel. Make sure your planes fly the way you want them to by going over your controller settings. And don’t forget to set your audio settings to your ideal preference, Flight Simulator allows you to enhance the ATC noise and cabin noise for a truly immersive experience.
 

Trial and Error

Before you jump in head first, you might want to start with some tutorials so you cover your bases and earn your wings to ensure you experience the game to its fullest potential. Sure it might take some time to learn the basics and yes you will crash but that is ok. You might even need to re-watch a couple of tutorials to get used to the controls. Trust us it is worth it and in no time at all you’ll be piloting the largest aircraft ever built, the An-225 Mriya.

Master The Weather

Once you have successfully earned your wings it's time to challenge yourself even further by mastering the different climates you can encounter while flying. Thanks to the game’s dynamic weather engine you can experience realistic weather challenges from wind to rain and even snow. You can also fly at night or during the day, learning how to adapt to the different challenges just like a real pilot.


Not only can you take in the game’s  incredible attention to detail and dedication to accuracy,  while you fly above the clouds but you can also capture the photorealistic graphics by pressing ALT+F1 to screenshot or ALT+F2 to activate photo mode. In photo mode you can customise settings and edit your capture pics.

Unfortunately, you do need multiple hands to do this and avoid crashing but you will manage over time. If you would like to go through the images you captured you can press ALT+Z and select the gallery icon which will open the folder location where the images are stored on your device.