The long wait is almost over to take to the skies in Microsoft Flight Simulator and will be available in three different editions on August 18. The three options are a Standard Deluxe and Premium Deluxe edition, each selling for $79.99, $119.99, and $159.99, respectively.
Each edition will let you take to the skies, but access to all the planes and airports will be gated. The Standard edition will offer users access to twenty highly detailed and accurate aircraft, along with thirty hand-crafted airports. This will provide users with a core experience and is a great way to experience the game for new and returning players.
The Deluxe edition features everything found in the Standard edition, with an additional five planes and hand-crafted international airports. Further to this, the Premium Deluxe edition features everything in the editions before it, with yet another five planes and airports. For those who are curious, the image below breaks down exactly which plane models are available in each edition of the game.
Right now, it is great to finally have a firm launch date for the game, and everyone is sure to be thankful in seeing that no major delays have occurred due to the ongoing global pandemic. Unfortunately, neither the official website nor any other media presence offers more details about the differences in access to planes. Like most games today, users will most likely have the option to purchase one edition of the game and upgrade to the next level by paying the difference in price.
Another option would be to offer individual planes and airports for sale, though it would likely be more expensive in the end compared to purchasing the bundled option in each higher level of edition.
This approach of offering three distinct editions is interesting, to say the least. What might have worked far better would have been to emulate the monetization model of developer SCS Software, known for the Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator.
There, the base game is quite inexpensive, and then players have an extensive amount of DLC they can purchase, ranging from map pack expansions, paint jobs, expanded cargo types, new trailers, cabin accessories, and more. This method of monetization works wonders for this type of game that draws in casual players and enthusiasts alike, and now eight years after its initial release is still one of the best-selling titles on Steam.
In any case, we can only speculate for now, but we are overall ecstatic to soon have the opportunity to fly high above the ground in Microsoft Flight Simulator!
Source: xbox.com/en-US/games/microsoft-flight-simulator