Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition

Asobo Studio and Microsoft have prepared for Gamescom 2022 several interesting announcements related to Microsoft Flight Simulator. This is a new free update City Update 1, a new plane from the Local Legend series – Junkers F 13 and the announcement of a free update 40th Anniversary Edition, which by the number of innovations is worth a separate game or at least a large paid DLC.

As you know, the Gamescom exhibition is traditionally held in Cologne, and this year for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic is off-line again. Therefore, the first “city update” City Update 1 is dedicated to Cologne and German cities (mostly near Cologne). Hannover, Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Bonn and, of course, Cologne itself got a photogrammetric look. Now the city even has a Koelnmesse exhibition center where Gamescom takes place. As someone who has been in and around Cologne several times (the last time in October 2021), I confirm that it is very well done, although the bridges are, as always, a problem.

As for the new aircraft, it was the world’s first all-metal transport plane, also German. The Junkers F 13 was designed at the end of World War I, but took off for the first time after its end, on June 25, 1919. The plane was made entirely of corrugated duralumin, and at the time it was a revolutionary technology. The Junkers F 13 was produced for 13 years and continued on commercial lines until the late 1940s. Now this legendary aircraft can be flown in the air in Microsoft Flight Simulator. Like all planes in the Local Legends and Famous Flyer series, this is paid DLC.

But Asobo and Microsoft have also prepared a somewhat free Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition for fans of flight simulators. The first version of Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0, developed by Bruce Artwick and Sublogic, was released in November 1982. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the series (not many games can boast such longevity) all Microsoft Flight Simulator owners will receive an update which will be released on November 11, 2022. This update adds two long-awaited types of aircraft – helicopters and gliders – to the game for the first time since 2006!

In addition, the 40th Anniversary Edition includes other interesting aircraft: the legendary Wright Flyer (1903), the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny (1915), the Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis (1927), the Douglas DC-3 (1935), the Grumman G-21 Goose (1947), and the Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (1947). Louis (1927), the Douglas DC-3 (1935), the Grumman G-21 Goose hydroplane (1937), the Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (1947) and the incredible Hughes H-4 Hercules (1947), the same hydroplane that Howard Hughes tried to get into the air (see Leonardo DiCaprio’s The Aviator.

In total, Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition will add to the game 4 classic commercial airports, 10 glider runways, 14 heliports, 12 new aircraft and 20 classic missions from previous parts of the game. Recall, it’s all free, we say, pulling in a lot of commercial DLC.

Gallery Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition

Well, thanks to Asobo and Microsoft for the gifts and look forward to the release.

Speaking of which. September 2022 will be a hot one for MSFS and Asobo. Sim Update 10, World Update 11: Canada and the next Local Legends aircraft are scheduled for release this month. I’d like to believe it’s finally the An-2, which was supposed to be released back in February 2022, but it’s unlikely.