Whilst PC gamers around the world have been flying in the virtual world of Microsoft Flight Simulator since August 18th, there are still many who are eagerly awaiting the Xbox console release of the new flight simulator. Flight Simulator has always been a PC exclusive release so to have a console version in the works is exciting and makes the simulator accessible to a whole new audience.
There are, however, some well-placed concerns that a console version will offer a lesser experience than that of a PC edition. With the new Microsoft Flight Simulator already requiring a adequate PC for optimal performance, there is a perception that console hardware will be unable to run the simulator smoothly. Combine that with control inputs that feature fewer buttons/options than a keyboard and mouse, and other flight sim related hardware, it is hard to imagine how this would work well on anything but a PC. That said, in a recent interview with GamingBolt, Head of Flight Simulator, Jorg Neumann said that the simulator will be “just as amazing on Xbox as it is on PC”.
In fact, Neumann continues by adding that “[s]some thing might even be better.” Whilst the Xbox version is still in development, the team are fully aware of the concerns regarding how people can experience the simulator on a console edition. “Regarding the controller, our intent is to deliver a great experience using any controls you already have, so you can enjoy the experience with a gamepad as well as a mouse and keyboard,” Neumann continued to tell GamingBolt in their recent interview.
There are still so many questions surrounding the Xbox release such as how third-party content will integrate with the platform, how peripherals will function and also what performance will be like.
Work for the Xbox version of the new Microsoft Flight Simulator does continue and we’ve been repeatedly told that more details will follow once we’re closer to an Xbox release. In the meantime, you can continue discovering the world with the simulator on PC.
