Microsoft Flight Simulator Xbox release date: What time the console version lands on Xbox Series X/S
The release time of Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox consoles is nearly here.
Microsoft Flight Simulator was one of the best-received PC gaming experiences of 2020, and now the aeroplane-flying masterpiece is making its way to Xbox Series X/S consoles at long last.
The PC launch of Microsoft Flight Simulator landed in the middle of August of last year, meaning it has taken the developers from Asobo Studio almost a whole extra year of development to get the game ready for take-off on Xbox consoles.
So if you're an Xbox-only gamer, you might've been waiting for quite some time to get your first taste of the Microsoft Flight Simulator game on your platform of choice. But now that wait is finally over!
To find out all the essential information about Microsoft Flight Simulator's Xbox release date and time, keep on reading and we'll break it all down for you.
Microsoft Flight Simulator Xbox release date
Microsoft Flight Simulator will land on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles on Tuesday 27th July 2021, so the wait is very nearly over at long last!
When that day comes, owners of the next-gen Xbox consoles will be able to test their mettle in the game, which includes pretty much any airport you could think of, as well as boasting a stunning recreation of the whole planet (thanks to Microsoft's Bing maps, which are baked into the game).
What time does Microsoft Flight Simulator arrive on Xbox consoles?
The official Microsoft Flight Simulator Twitter account has confirmed the exact time at which the game will go live, so you can take a look below to see when your region is getting the game! Here in the UK, we'll be getting Microsoft Flight Simulator at 4pm BST on Tuesday 27th July 2021. And so, download speeds permitting, we should be able to jump straight into the game after work.
Is Microsoft Flight Simulator coming to Xbox One?
For now, Microsoft Flight Simulator is not coming to Xbox One consoles - if you want to play this game on an Xbox when it launches on consoles on 27th July 2021, you'll need to have either an Xbox Series X or an Xbox Series S in order to run it.
If you're willing to wait, though, there will eventually be a way to play Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox One, but this won't be possible for a while. An official Xbox Wire blog post from Microsoft recently alluded to the fact that a cloud-based version of Microsoft Flight Simulator is intended to launch at some point, and that version will theoretically be compatible with Xbox One... but we don't have a date yet for it.
Until that Cloud version is released, you'll only be able to play Microsoft Flight Simulator on PC, Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S. We'll be sure to keep you posted as we hear more on the Cloud front.
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Is Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox Game Pass?
Yes, the good news is that the console version of Microsoft Flight Simulator will be available on Xbox Game Pass, just like the PC version always has been. So if you're a member of Microsoft's gaming membership club, you should be able to download the game and play it at no extra cost. The world is your oyster, basically, and it won't cost you any more than you're already paying.
- For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 guides.
What file size is Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox Series X/S?
You might need to orchestrate a clean-out of your hard drive before you try and play Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S, because the Xbox version of the game has a fairly massive file size. According to the Xbox Game Pass app, the console version of Microsoft Flight Simulator has a file size of 97GB. Who needs anything else on their console, anyway?
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Authors
Rob Leane is the Gaming Editor at Radio Times, overseeing our coverage of the biggest games on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC, mobile and VR. Rob works across our website, social media accounts and video channels, as well as producing our weekly gaming newsletter. He has previously worked at Den of Geek, Stealth Optional and Dennis Publishing.
