Microsoft Flight Simulator has been one of Xbox’s biggest successes over the past few years. The Asobo-Studio-developed game has not only received rave reviews from critics and fans, but very strong post-launch support that has kept players coming back. Given that live-service approach many assumed Microsoft and Asobo would simply continue updating Microsoft Flight Simulator indefinitely, but it turns out that’s actually not the case. Today during the big Xbox Games Showcase, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 was officially announced.

　　While this may sound like an expansion, it’s actually an all-new game, which will run on a “significantly evolved” version of Asobo’s engine. It will also introduce a variety of new aviation-based jobs for players to pursue, from aerial firefighting, to search and rescue, to helicopter cargo transport, to hot air balloon tour guide. Looks like there will be some fairly in-depth air races as well. You can check out all the new aircraft and jobs in the first Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 trailer, below.

　　Looks great, and a little more structured for those who don’t find just cruising around engaging enough. Not 100 percent sure why this needed to be an all-new game, but I’m sure there are some under-the-hood engine-related reasons why. Asobo did some pretty amazing things with the last Flight Sim, so I’m sure they have some cool tricks up their sleeves this time around too. Here’s the official description for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024…

　　“Pursue your dream of an aviation career with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. This brand-new simulator is designed to take advantage of the latest technologies in simulation, cloud, machine learning, graphics and gaming to create the most sophisticated, immersive and awe-inspiring flight simulator of all time. To achieve this unprecedented level of accuracy, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is powered by the significantly evolved Asobo Studio engine.”

　　Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is coming to PC and Xbox Series X/S sometime in… you guessed it… 2024. What do you think? Eager to upgrade your flight sim experience to first class? Or does this new game not feel like a big enough leap over the last one?