Microsoft’s Flight Simulator is back after 14 years and you can play it on Windows, Xbox

Microsoft has brought out a new version of its Flight Simulator video game after 14 years and this time it features live weather, air traffic and sprawling world map. On the Microsoft Flight Simulator, you can become a pilot and fly to anywhere in the world over realistic sights.

You begin by selecting a flight route and begin on the runway and as is in real life, your plane must gain momentum to achieve a lift-off. Once you are in the air, you have to balance speed and momentum to avoid buildings in your path.

The game ends when you land again and there are options to skip parts of the flight or accelerate flight time to different destinations around the world. However, it is more fun to check out the scenery as you fly over it.

The latest version is an update to Microsoft’s oldest franchise - Flight Sim, as fans like to call it. Flight Sim is 38 years old and existed before both Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Word and has a very dedicated fan base across the world.

The new version that was launched today, starts at $59.99 ( ₹4,486 approx) with extras for additional planes and airports. The new Flight Simulator can be played on both Windows and Xbox.

The new live weather feature is especially exciting since it creates additional challenges as you fly - like in real life. The storm that recently passed by the US’ East Coast was also visible in-game.

Those who have tried the game in preview have had the opportunity to explore locales that are not accessible to them due to the global pandemic and otherwise (like Chernobyl).

Flight Sim basically gives you a chance to fly wherever you want to at a time when you cannot really travel.

The game comes with 37,000 airports, 1.5 billion buildings and 2 trillion trees — which explains why it's a massive 150GB. It contains 2 petabytes of satellite and aerial imagery but runs on cloud streaming to keep the game file size manageable.

The new "Flight Sim" has not been simplified for beginners, but there is a new checklist system that helps players figure out what needs to be done before they can lift off safely. The game can be a little intimidating and overwhelming for newcomers as they pick their way through controls and terms like yokes and throttle, but the game has tutorials and autopilot functions for complicated actions like landing on water.

"Instead of dumbing down the flight physics... we help you fly the plane, (and make it) physically accurate," said Jorg Neumann, head of "Microsoft Flight Simulator, speaking to CNN Business.

This is the first new installment of the game since the 2006's Flight Simulator X and Microsoft has said it plans to service this new game for many years.