Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is coming to Playstation 5 on December 8th
44 comments
·September 24, 2025kkaske
My guess is that Microsoft is recalibrating its “console as loss leader + ecosystem monetization” model. This would indicate that they’ll lean harder on services, cross-play, etc. on all platforms.
ViktorRay
Xbox Series X is 5 years old.
PlayStation 5 is 5 years old.
I’m sure the PlayStation 6 is around the corner. PS5 came out 7 years after PS4 so PS6 should be coming within a couple years.
Now that Microsoft has seemingly abandoned exclusives why would anyone grab the next gen Xbox console when it comes out in a couple years? Seems like PlayStation 6 is the only viable option.
nvllsvm
Not a TV console, but there is a handheld "Xbox" releasing next month.
https://www.xbox.com/en-US/handhelds/rog-xbox-ally
My guess is they'll continue to improve handheld and TV experiences in Windows and leverage third-parties to make the hardware.
simlevesque
They still didn't say the prices for it. such a weird launch.
safeimp
It likely has to do with tariff fluidity.
jowday
I’m sure there’ll be a PS6, but it honestly seems like non-portable consoles are on their way out. Wouldn’t be surprised if there’s no next-gen TV console XBox at all, or if it’s just a MS branded gaming PC.
bitwize
I keep hearing rumors that this is 100% correct. The PS6 will be a handheld like the Switch; the next Xbox is the "ASUS Xbox Ally".
gdulli
I can't figure out how that makes sense. How could there not still be sigificant demand for a living room console that isn't underpowered from the handheld tradeoffs? As kids keep becoming adults their lifestyle evolves away from regularly taking their console to school and their friends houses.
demarq
Just remember there were rumors of Sony also giving up their console all together.
The money is in services and IP, you don’t want to restrict yourself to one piece of hardware.
They need you to grab their next titles more than they need you to grab an Xbox.
epolanski
I don't buy it, not completely, you still need platforms to run the games on.
If IP were the only things that mattered...well, phones have last gen graphics (PS4-level) capabilities already.
diddid
That’s silly, they will make a ps6, they’ve made billions with a healthy profit margin.
null
fyrabanks
even PlayStation exclusives are showing up on PC/other platforms later... Last of Us Remastered, Ghost of Tsushima, Death Stranding, FF7 Remake, etc.
the only reason to buy a traditional console these days if you want day 1 access to a game.
kelvinjps
The seem to be leaning into that and integrating steam. If they do seems like a good thing
dawnerd
That's like saying why would anyone buy a PC when there's Macs and you can run MS Office on them.
Not everyone cares about Sony exclusives. Not a single one I'm interested in as a data point.
Wonnk13
wow; I'm not a gamer at all. never owned a console since my parents bought one for my brother and myself over two decades ago. I might (5-15% chance) pick up a ps5 just for flightsim and the new GTA. RIP xbox
mentos
No mention of PSVR? Seems ripe for that.
edit: coming to PSVR 2026 via free update
Cool, I’ve never tried PSVR how does it compare to say Quest 2/3?
jsheard
The Xbox doesn't have VR support so letting the Playstation version have it would be a bit awkward.
afturner
> PS VR2 owners will be able to experience the entire game through their headset and Sense controllers with a free update that will be available in 2026
https://www.flightsimulator.com/microsoft-flight-simulator-2...
jsheard
Awkward for Microsoft then, but welcome!
doener
Does this mean Microsoft has officially given up completely on Xbox?
jsheard
They gave up on permanent exclusivity a while ago, this isn't the first game they've let slip to Playstation. The rule of thumb is now that MS games launch on both Xbox and PC then go to Playstation after a year or so, Sony games only launch on Playstation then go to PC after a year or so, but never Xbox, and Nintendo exclusives are still forever aside from some weird China-only deals.
MYEUHD
> Sony games only launch on Playstation then go to PC after a year or so, but never Xbox
Actually, Helldivers 2 was brought to Xbox 1.5 years after the PS5 / Windows release. But that's a live service game, so more players = a better experience.
Lammy
XBOX has outlived its usefulness now that all the anti-General-Purpose-Computing “““Security””” bullshit has metastasized fully-formed over to regular PCs after incubating for twenty years in console-land. They knew people would protest that stuff if they tried to develop it natively on PC, but nobody bats an eye when they lock down some appliance machine whose exclusive software “needs” to be protected.
doctorpangloss
Like Google gave up on Stadia? There's a chance.
It ships Windows on lots of computers and also makes the Surface. So hard to say with looser criteria too.
But. Yeah, they have.
behnamoh
Welp, that was the only reason to get XBOX, now I'm convinced I won't buy neither PS5 nor XBOX :)
Seriously, how hard is it to DIY your own console? It's just a PC afterall.
tombert
Not hard at all, really. My main "game console" for the last year and some change has been one of those tiny gaming PCs you can get on Amazon for about $400. I installed ChimeraOS on there and got it set up with the SteamOS thing in about an hour. I don't play a lot of cutting-edge new stuff, but I do have a lot of Windows games and Proton seems to handle them all just fine.
The SteamOS interface works great even with a gamepad. I even use Xbox gamepads to drive it.
null
epolanski
I've built multiple living room, consoles PCs.
The experience is nowhere near the same.
- OSs do not compare fairly to how easily and care free is the UX on consoles: press one button, press another and you're in game
- Most PC games have issues with local coop, especially when it comes to bluetooth controllers, some games don't even release with local coop on PC, but they do on consoles
- Many games still expect a keyboard and mouse and won't popup the virtual keyboard when playing with a controller.
- The OS itself will not work with just a mouse and keyboard
- Dimensions are much bulkier, there's virtually no low profile well performing GPUs anymore since a decade
Honestly comparing a PC to a console is nonsense. It's a very different experience. Unless you're playing at your desk, then they are equivalent.
bigmadshoe
Not sure if this is still the case but they used to subsidize the console hardware and recoup the loss on games.
Svoka
If you can afford PC, both in effort, time and money - it is obviously better choice.
Two years ago I saw a cool game, Helldivers 2. It looked like a lot of fun but my old PC was not up to the task. I went to the store, got PS5 and in couple hours I was enjoying the game. It is so much fun, and so little hustle that I honestly can't imagine going back.
HardwareLust
Sweet! I wonder how well it will perform vs. Xbox Series X.
bhasi
So excited for this!
People are complaining about the price of games, about Microsoft giving up exclusivity on some games...
I've seen this happen in many markets. When no one uses the internet and annual growth is 1,000%, everyone tries to attract an audience. Free internet access, free email, etc.
Big budgets are very encouraging in growing markets (Sony surpassed Concord with a budget of 600 million, according to some sources). It's a gold rush.
When the market stops growing, everything free disappears and everyone tries to make money in every way.
Some numbers in the gaming market probably indicate the end of growth, so prices are starting to rise more sharply. The price of older consoles hasn't dropped, the end of exclusivity (having access to more people with the same game), you have to pay to access online games, etc. The idea is to squeeze every penny out of every player.
This is also happening with streaming now.
The big risk is pushing too hard and losing the audience.
I have no idea what will happen, but I bet piracy will increase significantly in the coming years, and the industry will start trying to discontinue older games and eliminate cheap ways to play, forcing cloud gaming.
Mobile games are a different story; they're essentially a casino disguised as gambling, making money off of sick people (the whales).
Maybe Steam will be the last refuge from all this. Or it will become the same thing...