Xbox has announced that Microsoft Flight Simulator: GOTY Edition lands November 18, with new aircraft, upgrades, and DirectX 12 support. Watch the official announcement trailer and see what's coming on @XONEHQ.

The free GOTY update for Microsoft Flight Simulator will feature five new aircraft (including the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet), eight handcrafted airports, photogrammetry, missions, tutorials and loads more. This update is FREE to all existing Microsoft Flight Simulator players.

Let's take a look at what's included in the GOTY Edition update.

New Aircraft

5 brand new aircraft arrive on Microsoft Flight Simulator:

• Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet: Our first military jet and a highly requested feature from the community. The Top Gun: Maverick expansion will release with the movie next Spring, but we wanted simmers to have the opportunity to test their need for speed this holiday.
  
  
• VoloCity: We partnered with well-known German company Volocopter, which is working on an eVTOL called “VoloCity”, a vision for an urban air taxi. We worked closely with the Volocopter engineering team to develop an authentic version of the prototype aircraft for the simulator. This is our first aircraft that can perform pinpoint landings and is a teaser of what you can look forward to in 2022 when we intend to launch helicopters in the sim.
  
  
• Pilatus PC-6 Porter: This legendary short takeoff and landing (STOL) utility aircraft is a highly versatile plane from Switzerland and comes with several cockpits, cabins, and landing gear variations. It is the result of our close collaboration with the manufacturer and the development efforts by famed developers Hans Hartmann and Alexander Metzger resulted in a great and fun new aircraft with exception capabilities in the simulator.
  
  
• CubCrafters NX Cub: Yakima-based CubCrafters recently introduced a nosewheel option for their flagship CC-19 XCub Aircraft, popularly called the NX Cub, which we are pleased to introduce to the flight sim audience to further enhance our bush flying and off airport options.
  
  
• Aviat Pitts Special S1S: One of our most popular planes gets a single-seat option with the release of this aircraft.

New Airports

8 handcrafted airports in Central Europe and the United States:

• Germany
  • Leipzig/Halle Airport (EDDP)
  • Allgäu Airport Memmingen (EDJA)
  • Kassel Airport (EDVK)
• Switzerland
  • Lugano Airport (LSZA)
  • Zurich Airport (LSZH)
  • Luzern-Beromunster Airport (LSZO)
• United States
  • Patrick Space Force Base (KCOF)
  • Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (KNKX)

The Game of the Year release is adding information about 545 previously missing airports in the United States.

New Missions

Based on the popularity of the recently introduced Discovery Flights, an additional 6 locations (Helsinki, Freiburg im Breisgau, Mecca, Monument Valley, Singapore, and Mount Cook) have been added to this popular series.

New Tutorials

To further expand the onboarding experience, 14 new tutorials have been added, introducing simmers to Bush flying (in an Icon A5) and IFR (in a Cessna 172).

New Features

We are also pleased to introduce several highly requested features by the community: an updated weather system, early access to DX12, and a dev mode replay system.

New Photogrammetry Cities

As part of our ongoing collaboration with Bing Maps, we are pleased to add a number of new photogrammetry cities: Helsinki (Finland), Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany), Brighton, Derby, Eastbourne, Newcastle, and Nottingham (UK) and Utrecht (Netherlands).

Windows 11 Collaboration

To celebrate the launch of Windows 11, from October 19 to November 18, Microsoft selected 11 landmarks across the globe that will be lit up in Windows blue within Microsoft Flight Simulator. In addition, they'll be releasing a special Windows 11 themed livery for the EXTRA 330LT for simmers to add to their collection.

Microsoft Flight Simulator Game of the Year Edition will be available as a free update for existing players on PC and Xbox Series X|S.

Microsoft Flight Simulator Game of the Year edition and update arrives November 18.

Microsoft Flight Simulator is now available on Xbox Series X|S with Xbox Game Pass, Windows 10/11 with Xbox Game Pass for PC, and Steam.

To keep up with all the latest Microsoft Flight Simulator news, updates, and upcoming releases, follow @XONEHQ on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, download the free XBOX app for Android or subscribe via email and rss.