Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition is Now Available

Microsoft today announced the availability of Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition, which features helicopters and gliders for the first time.

“Today we celebrate the exciting history of aviation with the release of the Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition, the most advanced version of this beloved franchise yet,” Microsoft’s Jorg Neumann announced. “Among the many features included in this update is a true-to-life airliner, the Airbus A310-300, rendered with stunning accuracy. The 40th Anniversary Edition also features, for the first time since the platform’s 2006 release, helicopters and gliders that perform with amazing life-like realism.”

The new release also features seven new historical aircraft: the 1903 Wright Flyer, the 1915 Curtiss JN-4 Jenny, the 1927 Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis, the 1935 Douglas DC-3, the beautiful 1937 Grumman G-21 Goose, the 1947 Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, and the 1947 Hughes H-4 Hercules “Spruce Goose,” the largest seaplane and wooden aircraft ever built. There are four new airports, including Meigs Field in Chicago, 2 helicopters and 14 heliports, 2 gliders and 15 glider airports, and 24 classic missions from the franchise’s past.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition is a free update for existing players. It’s available on Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Windows, and Steam, and on Xbox One and supported mobile phones, tablets, and lower-end PCs via Xbox Cloud Gaming (which is part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate).