Microsoft’s new Flight Simulator looks real enough to scratch your air-travel itch
Realistic graphics extend to the ground and the air. (Microsoft /)It’s a very bad time for aviation: The pandemic has people understandably wary about flying, and has spurred airlines to send beloved but aged aircraft like the 747 into retirement earlier than they had planned. Planes are grounded; air traffic is down. By one metric, air travel demand is down by 65 to 70 percent globally when measured year-over-year, according to consulting firm Oliver Wyman. But there’s a digital bright spot for aviation buffs: For the first time since 2006, Microsoft is releasing a new version of their famous Flight Simulator game, a franchise that dates back originally to 1982. And by all indications, the world, the aircraft, and the actual flying it simulates are not just gorgeous, they’re highly accurate and realistic, too. Night flights introduce unique challenges. (Microsoft /)The simulated world includes thousands of airports and 2 trillion in-game objects,...