Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is an amazing hands-on experience.

When restarting Microsoft Flight Simulator Launched in the summer of 2020, it was described as the most unique new game in a generation. By combining data from Bing Maps, a next-generation physics-based flight model, real-world weather data, and live air traffic, Xbox Game Studios and its partners at Asobo Studio have created something extraordinary. But the software wasn’t without its flaws.

Upon launch, fans complained about the massive installation size of over 120GB to start the game. There were also early graphical issues, including rivers trying to crawl up the sides of mountains and cave holes in the ground This seems to defy explanation. But the biggest omission was the lack of any real progression in the game, or even a series of fun missions to fly. Four years later, these development partners returned with a sequel titled Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024I am once again amazed at how ambitious they are.

The main feature this time around is the game’s new Career Mode, which draws from over 3 million procedurally generated activities spread across the world. These include benign tasks like delivering VIP passengers to their vacation spots, or technical ones like spraying crops on a windy slope in a French wine region. Some missions include pulling a banner, or participating in helicopter search and rescue operations in remote areas. Regardless of the activity, each mission features a full written briefing, as well as an isometric flight plan that clearly outlines what players need to do to succeed.

Of course, not all activities will be available at the start of the game. Before they can fly a particular mission, players will first need to pass an in-game flight test to earn a certification in that particular activity. Each of the game’s 64 certifications is exam-based, and each test will cost you in-game currency. So even if you manage to unlock the forest firefighting branch of the certification tree, you may want to take a few practice flights before you pay for that test flight in a massive twin-engine water bomber.

But what is most interesting is the team’s global approach to the availability of aviation-based careers in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024Players can start their career at any airport in the world. The game then populates the airport with procedurally generated NPCs from face scans taken from areas and fully drawn clothing styles. Players will even hear from a virtual mentor, a sort of in-game boss, who will give them some early missions and teach them how to navigate the game.

Once you’ve earned your certification, missions are automatically unlocked around the world. They’re also updated every day, 365 in-game days a year. After a few weeks of virtual work, the developers say, players should be able to effectively run their own virtual air transport business, maintaining planes and purchasing new airframes as needed. Later, they can even expand to new regions of the world — and pass tests for new flight roles.

The game’s new Challenge Mode also looks interesting. Asobo’s chief creative officer David Deedin has promised three “actionable” scenarios each week, including experiences like the Valley Race and Landing Challenges, which utilize the game’s most advanced flight models and physics features. Dedicated players can also opt for a 10-week competitive series, featuring progressive landings and advances, to prove themselves among the best pilots in the community.

Similarly, a new photographer mode adds a rich minigame to the experience. Maybe you want to take a photo of the Golden Gate Bridge, Didin said. That’s simple enough, but what about taking it with the Financial District in the background? Or shooting the scene by moonlight? Or with the moon itself in the frame? Such objectives are scattered throughout the world, and can be achieved while playing any other mode in the game.

All of these activities are supported by the simulation’s new, highly advanced terrain generation system, which Xbox Game Studios is calling “Countryside.” Tax Identification NumberWith it, the developers claim that the Earth’s fabric in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Amphibious aircraft are capable of landing on water, which is 4,000 times more detailed than previously possible. This means that virtual pilots will need to fly through landing sites while taking into account any potential obstacles, such as rocks or other debris. They will also need to pay close attention to the direction and amplitude of waves when landing on water in amphibious aircraft, as these waves can now slow down or sink the aircraft.

Microsoft Flight Simulator President Joerg Neumann says the entire product was designed specifically to meet the needs of three very specific and very different customer communities — dedicated flight simulation enthusiasts, traditional gamers, and so-called digital tourists who just show up to admire the scenery. The ultimate goal, he says, was ultimately the same as it was four years ago: to make more pilots. Current data, he says, estimates the aviation industry is short about 800,000 pilots, and they are in desperate need of roles around the world. It’s a huge gap he hopes to fill. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 It can inspire people to fill the coming years.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 The game is scheduled to launch on November 19 on Windows PC and Xbox Series X.

Disclosure: This article is based on the Microsoft Flight Simulator Global Preview event held at the Grand Canyon on September 10, 2024. Xbox Game Studios provided Polygon with travel and accommodation expenses during the event. You can find additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.