Today, Microsoft released the first gameplay and details about the promised PS VR2 update for the PS5 version of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
While a release date for the update has not been provided, and for now, all we know is “early 2026,” Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator Jorg Numann provided plenty of details on a post on the PlayStation Blog.
Just let this sink in, we’re reading about a game with “Microsoft” in the name on the PlayStation Blog. We truly live in a crazy timeline.
Neumann explained that implementing cockpit interactions was quite complex, and they have all been redesigned for the PS VR2 Sense controllers.
“Cockpit interactions in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 are complex. There are so many different instruments, knobs, and switches to interact with. Every interaction model had to be redesigned to fit the PS VR2 Sense controllers to action them in a natural and intuitive manner.”
The development team has also worked hard to ensure a smooth framerate, which is essential in VR.
“Getting foveated rendering with Flexible Scaled Rasterization right was quite a challenge. It impacts the entirety of the rendering pipeline, and subtle off-by-on-pixel bugs during development could result in dramatic quality issues.
Another tech developed specifically for PS VR2 support was frame duplication, where the render thread would iterate twice for one frame of the main thread, updating the camera position in-between. This technical approach was another key in achieving the framerate needed for PS VR2 support.”
Interestingly, Neumann reveals that the development team has observed and taken inspiration from Gran Turismo 7 and how it utilizes VR.
“It’s the sense of scale. On a flat screen, you see a mountain. In VR you feel the sheer mass of the rock wall as you hover your helicopter next to it. Also, flying through a storm is a completely different experience when you can lean forward to look through a clear patch in the windshield.”
We also hear that a specific effort has been made to make sure airliners perform well, considering their complex avionics, which are demanding on the hardware.
“Airliners were used a lot during development, especially the Boeing 737-8. In general, airliners are the most challenging archetype because of their requirements on performance, the sheer complexity of the cockpits, readability, as well as interactions. But now that it all works really well, taking off with a 737 in VR is immensely satisfying!
Neumann then mentioned what we can expect from helicopters.
“Helicopters like the Guimbal Cabri G2 are also particularly interesting and immersive in VR, because the peripheral vision in these aircraft is unmatched. In VR, you do not just fly a helicopter; you feel like you are suspended in mid-air. It is a great way to enjoy the scenery.”
If you’re a thrill-seeker, the Red Bull air races will likely be your bread and butter.
“With the PS VR2 Red Bull Air Races are jaw-dropping, they take on a whole new dimension in terms of authenticity. The ability to look into a high-G turn to spot the next pylon is simply incredible.”
Below, you can check out the footage shared today.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is currently available for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5. If you’d like to hear more about the simulator, you can watch our latest interview with Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator Jorg Neumann.
If you’d like to read more flight simulation news, you can find plenty in our latest roundup article from yesterday.
If you want to go further back, we have a handy overview video of the major flight simulation news in the past week. You can watch it below. As usual, leaving a like and a comment and subscribing to our growing YouTube channel is extremely helpful.
