Microsoft took to the Flight Sim forums today and has announced that Microsoft Flight Simulator will have a “Game of the Year” edition to celebrate the incredible success it garnered a little over a year after the original release. The new version of the simulator will sit alongside the original three editions: Standard, Deluxe, and Premium Deluxe, and with the GOTY Update, it adds a further five aircraft to the simulator, along with eight handcrafted airports included. Microsoft has set a duration of time to celebrate this period, starting today, October 19th through November 18th, collaborating with the launch of Windows 11, landmarks worldwide will be lit up in “Windows Blue.”

The current iteration of Microsoft Flight Simulator was a long-awaited release back in 2020. With the release of 6 World Updates since August of last year, the simulator attracted a host of many 3rd Party Developers such as Precision Manuals Development Group, VerticalSim, and JustFlight, to name a few. Needs not be said, Microsoft Flight Simulator has come a long way from its consumer predecessor: FSX.

In the blog post, Microsoft has detailed that the development team is adding five new aircraft and eight handcrafted airports worldwide. Since the inception of the simulator, these aircraft have been requested by the community, including aircraft like the F/A-18, Pilatus PC-6 Porter, VoloCity, Aviat Pitts Special S1S, and the CubCrafters NX Cub. Microsoft has included airports worldwide including Patrick Space Force Base and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in the United States; Zurich, Lugano, and Lurzen in Switzerland; and finally Leipzig, Allgäu, and Kassel Airports in Germany. A special livery is included for the EXTRA 300LT aircraft to celebrate the festivities. You can find the complete feature list on the Flight Sim Forums.

Around the same time period, a major update was issued for the simulator, bringing the version numbering up to version 1.20.6.0. Dubbed “Sim Update 6”, the service patch introduces a plethora of fixes that improves the sim’s performance and stability. The changelog provided is vast, but neatly categorised which the full list can be read here.

Some highlights to the update includes compatibility with new peripherals such as Thrustmaster’s new Boeing controls, scenery rendering improvements including low resolution photogrammetry, and doubled terrain resolution option for PC users. The update also brings AIRAC cycle 2110 to the simulator.

You can find any other information regarding this announcement by heading over to the Flight Sim Forums. Threshold will keep you on the festivities all month long while the festivities are in session.