Simulator games that feature vehicles need to have enough variety to satisfy both non-gamer enthusiasts as well as those who are accustomed to having tons of options. The newest iteration ofMicrosoft Flight Simulatorclearly aims to satisfy this requirement as it boasts about 31 different planes for cruising the skies.
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However, only 20 of those are available in the base game, including the free version ofMicrosoft Flight Simulatorthat gamers can acquire with theirXbox Game Pass, asthe final 11 are only unlocked through more expensive additions to the game.
Updated on June 05, 2025, by Reyadh Rahaman:Despite being relatively recently released on theXbox Series Xand theXbox Series S, Microsoft Flight Simulator has been around for a while. The first version of this sky-cruising gamecame out in the 1980sand has essentially been in a cycle of recreation for the past few decades.
Keep in mind, that, during this period of time,Microsoftwas almost exclusively making business software. As such, the history and legacy of this ancient (by internet standards) game are appropriately colorful, much like the view that one can get from their cockpit in-game.
Planes Available Only From Getting The Deluxe Edition
Out of these 5 planes that players can get, 4 of them are Propeller Planes and the last one is a Turboprop Plane, meaning that these Deluxe Edition-only aircraft will be especially desirable for those who are fans of the simple yet efficient small planes.
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The full price ofMicrosoft Flight Simulator- Deluxe Editionis $90.00, which is 50% more expensive than the $60.00 base version of the game. This means that players would essentially be paying $6 per new plane added, which, while a great deal cheaper than real-life miniature models, seems like a bit much.
It should also be mentioned that the Deluxe Edition-only planes cannot be acquired in a separate DLC pack if one already owns a copy ofMicrosoft Flight Simulator;the only way to get these planes is to straight-up buy the $90 Deluxe Edition of the game.
Planes Available Only From Getting The Premium Edition
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Much like the Deluxe Edition,the Premium Edition of the game must be bought on its own if players want to get the 5 planes that are exclusive to it, meaning that they will have to spend another $120.00 onMicrosoft Flight Simulator.
These 5 planes include another 3 Propeller Planes as well as a Jet and an Airlinerfor those wishing to soar through the clouds at the fastest speeds or casually while ferrying many happy passengers. While majestic and fun to pilot, acquiring these planes in-game will result in basically buying 2 full games.
Planes Available Only From Standalone DLC
This Propeller Plane, by itself, is currently the only aircraft available to be purchased on its own, as opposed to the other bonus planes that require one to purchase the Deluxe Edition or Premium Edition ofMicrosoft Flight Simulator. However, the Carenado Skylane is comparatively much more expensive than the approximate $6 per new plane that the fancier editions of the game average, as it costs $30 to obtain.
The game indeed gives players the ability to take off and fly, though partially because it is lightening their wallets with deals like the one to unlock this Propeller Plane.
History Of Microsoft Flight Simulator
Overview Of The Game’s Title & Why It Matters
Unlike many other franchises that simply release sequels to begin their legacy,Microsoft Flight Simulatorhas instead been re-released as the same game under the same title, though with often great leaps in visual and technical improvements. It’s theorized that the reason for this was due to how Microsoft marketed and sold their other software.
For example, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel are programs that don’t have sequels or franchises, just new versions. Video game series work pretty differently these days, as they are viewed more as entertainment media than programs, but, remember, the 80s were when the video game industry was in its infancy and that a lot has changed since then.
Initial Release Of Microsoft Flight Simulator
Development of the initial game, then simply calledFlight Simulator, began in the late 1970s and was headed by Bruce Artwick from a company called Sublogic. This game was released in 1981 for various kinds of personal computers, however, not long after its release, Artwick and Sublogic were approached by Microsoft.
The software giant was interested in resoundingly demonstrating the visual capabilities of the new 16-bit computers over their 8-bit predecessors, and wished to useFlight Simulatorto prove that due to the game’s excellent graphics. In 1982, Sublogic licensedFlight Simulatoras a Microsoft product and the first version ofMicrosoft Flight Simulatorwas born.
Microsoft Flight Simulatoris available on DOS, Classic Mac OS, PC-98, Windows, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
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