VR Mode Launches for Microsoft Flight Sim 2020 in Late December

Countless folks were excited at the release of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. It was a highly detailed and in depth revival of the classic PC game from the early '80s. And here soon, they can experience what it has to offer in virtual reality. A DLC update for the game will be released on December 23, adding VR support.

The VR functionality will be part of what Microsoft is calling the Sim Update 2, their second major update to the game. It was revealed during a developer livestream on Twitch.

While we knew since July that a VR update was coming, it was previously believed to be exclusive to select Windows Mixed Reality devices. Now the developers have confirmed that VR will be available for all devices, according to a statement by Martial Bossard, executive producer at Asobo Studio.
 

We are going to open the VR for everyone. Everybody will get access to VR now, and when I say everybody [...] it will also be open to all devices, including the Oculus family, Valve family, really every family of headset are going to be supported there.

Bossard assures us that the VR mode will be a seamless option, introducing a new virtual interface menu. This way, players wont need to remove the headset for the pre-flight checklist.

Sim Update 2 will also include a new tutorial for the Airbus A320neo jetliner. After it launches, the studio will focus work on World Update 3, a planned update set for late January that will add additional details and features to the United Kingdom. This ranges from new trips, landmarks, and points of interest the player can explore.

The developers have commented on plans for future fan requested updates, including replay functionality, multi-screen views, and even helicopters. More details on these features were not provided at the time.

Aircraft operation is a popular genre for VR, given the cockpits ability to reduce simulator sickness (it's hard to explain, but it's true). Adding VR to Microsoft Flight Sim would be too perfect of a fit to pass up. We're glad that the update is coming so soon.