By Reyadh Rahaman
Updated
Only 20 planes are available in the base game, with the rest only being obtainable through additional content. Here's what you need to know!
Simulator games that feature vehicles need to have enough variety to satisfy both non-gamer enthusiasts as well as those who are accustomed to having tons of options. The newest iteration of Microsoft Flight Simulator clearly aims to satisfy this requirement as it boasts about 31 different planes for cruising the skies.
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However, only 20 of those are available in the base game, including the free version of Microsoft Flight Simulator that gamers can acquire with their Xbox Game Pass, as the final 11 are only unlocked through more expensive additions to the game.
Updated on September 27, 2021, by Reyadh Rahaman: Despite being relatively recently released on the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S, Microsoft Flight Simulator has been around for a while. The first version of this sky-cruising game came out in the 1980s and has essentially been in a cycle of recreation for the past few decades.
Keep in mind, that, during this period of time, Microsoft was almost exclusively making business software. As such, the history and legacy of this ancient (by internet standards) game are appropriately colorful, much like the view that one can get from their co*ckpit in-game.
Planes Available Only From Getting The Deluxe Edition
- Textron Aviation Beechcraft Baron G58
- Textron Aviation Cessna 152 Aerobat
- Textron Aviation Cessna 172 Skyhawk
- Diamond Aircraft DA40-TDI
- Diamond Aircraft DV20
Out of these 5 planes that players can get, 4 of them are Propeller Planes and the last one is a Turboprop Plane, meaning that these Deluxe Edition-only aircraft will be especially desirable for those who are fans of the simple yet efficient small planes.
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The full price of Microsoft Flight Simulator- Deluxe Edition is $90.00, which is 50% more expensive than the $60.00 base version of the game. This means that players would essentially be paying $6 per new plane added, which, while a great deal cheaper than real-life miniature models, seems like a bit much.
It should also be mentioned that the Deluxe Edition-only planes cannot be acquired in a separate DLC pack if one already owns a copy of Microsoft Flight Simulator; the only way to get these planes is to straight-up buy the $90 Deluxe Edition of the game.
Planes Available Only From Getting The Premium Edition
- Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner
- Textron Aviation Cessna Citation Longitude
- Cirrus Aircraft SR22
- Pipistrel Virus SW 121
- Zlin Aviation Shock Ultra
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Much like the Deluxe Edition, the Premium Edition of the game must be bought on its own if players want to get the 5 planes that are exclusive to it, meaning that they will have to spend another $120.00 on Microsoft Flight Simulator.
These 5 planes include another 3 Propeller Planes as well as a Jet and an Airliner for those wishing to soar through the clouds at the fastest speeds or casually while ferrying many happy passengers. While majestic and fun to pilot, acquiring these planes in-game will result in basically buying 2 full games.
Planes Available Only From Standalone DLC
- Carenado CT182T Skylane
This Propeller Plane, by itself, is currently the only aircraft available to be purchased on its own, as opposed to the other bonus planes that require one to purchase the Deluxe Edition or Premium Edition of Microsoft Flight Simulator. However, the Carenado Skylane is comparatively much more expensive than the approximate $6 per new plane that the fancier editions of the game average, as it costs $30 to obtain.
The game indeed gives players the ability to take off and fly, though partially because it is lightening their wallets with deals like the one to unlock this Propeller Plane.
History Of Microsoft Flight Simulator
Overview Of The Game's Title & Why It Matters
Unlike many other franchises that simply release sequels to begin their legacy, Microsoft Flight Simulator has instead been re-released as the same game under the same title, though with often great leaps in visual and technical improvements. It's theorized that the reason for this was due to how Microsoft marketed and sold their other software.
For example, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel are programs that don't have sequels or franchises, just new versions. Video game series work pretty differently these days, as they are viewed more as entertainment media than programs, but, remember, the 80s were when the video game industry was in its infancy and that a lot has changed since then.
Initial Release Of Microsoft Flight Simulator
Development of the initial game, then simply called Flight Simulator, began in the late 1970s and was headed by Bruce Artwick from a company called Sublogic. This game was released in 1981 for various kinds of personal computers, however, not long after its release, Artwick and Sublogic were approached by Microsoft.
The software giant was interested in resoundingly demonstrating the visual capabilities of the new 16-bit computers over their 8-bit predecessors, and wished to use Flight Simulator to prove that due to the game's excellent graphics. In 1982, Sublogic licensed Flight Simulator as a Microsoft product and the first version of Microsoft Flight Simulator was born.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is available on DOS, Classic Mac OS, PC-98, Windows, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
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