Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Takes to the Skies with PS VR2 Support

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is set to receive a free update bringing full support for PlayStation VR2, promising an immersive cockpit experience for aviation enthusiasts. The update, announced last year, aims to transform the already expansive flight simulator into a fully embodied virtual reality experience.

Redesigning the Cockpit for VR

Asobo Studio and Microsoft Game Studios faced significant challenges in adapting the complex cockpit interactions of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 for the PS VR2 Sense controllers. “Cockpit interactions in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 are complex,” explains Jorg Neumann, Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator. “There are so many different instruments, knobs, and switches to interact with. Every interaction model had to be redesigned to fit the PS VR2 Sense controllers to action them in a natural and intuitive manner.”

Technical Hurdles and Innovations

Beyond the control scheme, the development team tackled technical hurdles to ensure a smooth and visually compelling VR experience. Key innovations included foveated rendering with Flexible Scaled Rasterization and a frame duplication technique. “Getting foveated rendering with Flexible Scaled Rasterization right was quite a challenge,” said Neumann. “It impacts the entirety of the rendering pipeline, and subtle off-by-on-pixel bugs during development could result in dramatic quality issues.” The frame duplication technique involved the render thread iterating twice for each frame, updating the camera position in between to boost the framerate needed for PS VR2 support.

Inspired by Gran Turismo 7

The developers drew inspiration from other successful VR implementations, particularly Gran Turismo 7. According to Neumann, the goal was to replicate the sense of scale and immersion found in other VR titles. “On a flat screen, you see a mountain. But in virtual reality, you can feel the massiveness of the rock wall when you circle the helicopter right next to it. Similarly, flying through storms is a completely different experience when you can lean forward,” he stated.

Challenges with Airliners

While the update will support over 125 different aircraft, the team identified large airliners, such as the Boeing 737-8, as presenting the biggest challenges due to their complexity and performance demands.

Availability

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is currently available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The PS VR2 update is scheduled for release sometime in 2026. The game initially launched on Xbox Series X|S and PC in November 2024, with optional PC VR support, and then on PlayStation 5 in December 2025.