Whilst Microsoft Flight Simulator is currently available on PC and Xbox Series X|S, it could very well be coming to multiple other platforms at some point this year. Those other platforms include PlayStation 5 and the newly announced Nintendo Switch 2. Whilst this is a rumour, for the time being, there are a few indicators that seemingly point to this being the case.
Microsoft Very Open to Multiplatform Now
A year ago, Microsoft was clear that they were keen to expand their game library to a range of other platforms beyond the PC/Xbox ecosystem. We saw games like HiFi Rush, Grounded and Indiana Jones (coming out to PS5 later this year) all announced for new platforms and Microsoft seems pleased with the results.
In fact, as recently as November 2024, Phil Spencer (CEO of Microsoft Gaming), said that he does “not see sort of red lines in [their] portfolio”. This seemingly indicates that executives within Microsoft are very open to a range of their IPs crossing onto platforms that make sense for the brand and the finances.
New Rumour of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Coming to Switch 2 and PS5
A new rumour began circulating a week ago from the NateTheHate podcast where they discussed that they heard Microsoft Flight Simulator (and other Xbox IPs) were coming to Switch 2 and PS5. Windows Central corroborated this story with their sources of the same information. You can listen to the exact moment this was mentioned in the podcast below.
What Makes this a Credible Rumour?
If you look at the date of the podcast above, you will note it’s around a week old. So why are we reporting on it now? Well, NateTheHate, known for being quite accurate in the world of video game leaks, was amongst the first to report that Nintendo would reveal its new generation video game console on January 16th 2025. Then around lunchtime (UK) on that date, Nintendo did exactly what Nate had said and revealed the Nintendo Switch 2 officially for the first time.
With other sources corroborating NateTheHate’s claims about other Microsoft IPs going to platforms, and then the correct information surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, there is certainly some credibility in what he is stating. Of course, take a huge pinch of salt as plans change or sources could generally be wrong.
There is of course the appetite from within the Microsoft Flight Simulator team to ensure that simulator reaches as many people as possible. We (along with other journalists) asked Jorg Neumann at the Global Preview Event in September 2024 if Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 would come to other platforms. Jorg admitted to us that there is an “openness from leadership”. He said that there are still huge markets out there where they’ve never shipped Microsoft Flight Simulator before (e.g. China), which may of course be explored first prior to other platforms.
Performance and Stability of the Platform
It is no secret that the launch of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 saw many issues. As we await the first main sim update, users are still commenting on general stability issues and performance woes. Whilst Microsoft has committed to fixing and improving the simulator, many would hope that there would be a focus on finding resolutions to that before looking at other platforms. However, it is worth pointing out that a team within Microsoft/Asobo currently working on the simulator likely has the resources to split teams up to focus on different areas. Furthermore, NateTheHate never speculated on timeframes for when we could see MSFS 2024 on other platforms.
In terms of power and performance of these consoles, the PS5 certainly would be able to handle Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Specs on Switch 2 are not out there (in any confirmed/official capacity), but if rumours are true, it would be on par with Xbox Series S, meaning the technical aspect should be able to be overcome for Nintendo’s portable console.
Concluding Thoughts
As mentioned multiple times, this is just a rumour, but with credence. Some of the evidence is certainly circumstantial and doesn’t lead to any clear proof that Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is heading to other platforms, but the prospect is certainly exciting. With more accessibility to the simulator, it opens the doors to more people using it and learning about the world of flight simulation and aviation.
Microsoft is hosting their Xbox Developer Direct on January 23rd 2025, which may give us a clearer indication of whether we will see Microsoft Flight Simulator grace other platforms. Time will tell, but we’ll be keen to see the hobby grow as far and as wide as possible.
