We’ve got a flurry of Microsoft Flight Simulator news coming in today with confirmation from Microsoft that Flight Simulator is coming to PlayStation and PlayStation VR this fall. We’re also learning about new aircraft coming to the sim plus let’s see what is being said about the latest Sim Update 4 beta tests. Here we go!

Soaring onto PlayStation

Microsoft have, in the past, did a surprising thing and supported what seemed to be opposing platforms to their own. They brought Office to Mac OS, Office 365 apps to Android, and most recently they’ve started to offer exclusively Xbox titles on PlayStation. Add one more to the list as Microsoft Flight Simulator is set to come to Sony’s PlayStation consoles on December 8 with a free update coming sometime in 2026 aimed at adding PlayStation VR support.

This is definitely big news and it comes with it a whole host of questions that we’ll no doubt be seeking answers for over the coming weeks and months. We do know that the update that brings PlayStation to the sim will include support for the PlayStation’s Dual Sense controllers.

The press release mentions the range of aircraft on hand as well as the various modes available including career, activities, landing challenges and more. Microsoft and Asobo are hopefully going to have some of those features, still often in rough shape following the titles release last year, sorted out in time for the December 9th launch.

It’ll also be very interesting to see how this affects production pipelines for third party developers. Will the addition of PlayStation require additional product versions and testing or will it work in a way that mirrors the experience on Xbox. I’m guessing we’ll learn how that goes as time progresses. The other side of the coin is that this is a tremendous new opportunity for an even larger collection of customers purchasing products through the Marketplace. MSFS has already offered far more lucrative marketplace opportunities than previous products and the addition of Xbox has opened up new opportunities and avenues – perhaps PlayStation will do that again.

New aircraft coming December 9

The other thing we’ve learned from today’s press releases on the PlayStation announcement is that two, previously unannounced, aircraft are coming to the sim. First, the Boom Supersonic XB-1 prototype aircraft has been announced as an aircraft that will arrive alongside the December 9 release. The XB-1 is a demonstrator prototype aircraft that is currently being used to test systems and technologies for the company’s proposed Overture supersonic airliner.

The aircraft uses technologies and aerodynamic research that has been learned over the last few decades following the design of the Concorde so it should be interesting to see both in MSFS and in the real world as testing continues.

The other aircraft mentioned is part of a pre-order deal where those who pre-order any version of the PlayStation release will gain access to the T-38A Talon. No Talon has been officially announced prior to now so that should be interesting to see who among the third party developers has been creating this project.

Sim Update 4 beta

According to the September 18 Developer Update, Sim Update 4 beta is well underway and that the Sim Update 4 Beta (1.6.7.0) release has just come out for testers. The latest notes show off what has been adjusted as of the latest beta.

We have heard some good things about the beta with improved performance on some aircraft and in some situations. Not as much in other situations. Lots of notes are in relation to long standing issues with the sim and not just with the latest update. Hopefully the efforts on display here are ultimately indicative of a move towards solving not just the sim’s performance issues but also some of its long standing bugs with activities, career mode and so forth.

Read the press releases

Today’s news comes to us from Microsoft on the Microsoft Flight Simulator website via press release. The same messaging has also come in concert with Microsoft on Sony’s PlayStation blog showing off the combined effort on display here. You can read that PlayStation announcement here.