Asobo Studio and the Microsoft Game Studios team at Microsoft wasted no time with the immediate and welcome revelation that, yes, you'll be exploring new heights in one of the most advanced flight sims available with a free PS VR2 update launching early this year. But as with any VR mode, it's not just a matter of pressing a magic button to get the job done.
"Cockpit interactions in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 are complex," explains Jorg Neumann, Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator. "There are so many different instruments, knobs, and switches to interact with. Every interaction model had to be redesigned to fit the PS VR2 Sense controllers to action them in a natural and intuitive manner."
On top of the control elements, there were many technical aspects that posed a variety of challenges to the team, especially those related to ensuring a smooth framerate, something essential to such a visually demanding game. "Getting foveated rendering with Flexible Scaled Rasterization right was quite a challenge," said Jorg. "It impacts the entirety of the rendering pipeline, and subtle off-by-on-pixel bugs during development could result in dramatic quality issues.
"Another tech developed specifically for PS VR2 support was frame duplication, where the render thread would iterate twice for one frame of the main thread, updating the camera position in-between. This technical approach was another key in achieving the framerate needed for PS VR2 support."
With the heavy focus on technical quality there's always a risk of losing sight of what can make – and keep – a game being fun, but the development team's strong emphasis on community feedback from prior versions kept their vision clear. Jorg revealed that they also looked at how Gran Turismo 7 effectively used VR as a form of inspiration. Placing the player into the seat of a high powered vehicle is an obvious overlap, with the feeling of being within the high flying environments offered by Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 being something that the studio felt they had to get absolutely right in VR.
"It's the sense of scale," says Jorg. "On a flat screen, you see a mountain. In VR you feel the sheer mass of the rock wall as you hover your helicopter next to it. Also, flying through a storm is a completely different experience when you can lean forward to look through a clear patch in the windshield."
One of the other factors that had to be taken on board for VR was that different aircraft archetypes provided their own quirks and characteristics, which meant more considerations. "Airliners were used a lot during development, especially the Boeing 737-8," said Jorg. "In general, airliners are the most challenging archetype because of their requirements on performance, the sheer complexity of the cockpits, readability, as well as interactions. But now that it all works really well, taking off with a 737 in VR is immensely satisfying!
"Helicopters like the Guimbal Cabri G2 are also particularly interesting and immersive in VR, because the peripheral vision in these aircraft is unmatched. In VR, you do not just fly a helicopter, you feel like you are suspended in mid-air. It is a great way to enjoy the scenery."
And while being able to take in the many different environments at your leisure is a big part of the experience, when asked about some of the more thrill-seeking moments in VR, Jorg had a clear favourite. "With the PS VR2 Red Bull Air Races are jaw-dropping, they take on a whole new dimension in terms of authenticity. The ability to look into a high-G turn to spot the next pylon is simply incredible."
"A true-to-life experience"
With up to 125 different aircraft to try out, many providing a very different experience via VR, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is looking to deliver an enhanced level of authenticity in simulated flying for both fans and newcomers alike. And if – like me – you're a little apprehensive around heights, this could be as real as it gets to flying an actual aircraft, which is no mean feat.
"For those of us who are pilots, it is uncanny how our body movement mimics what we do when flying a real aircraft when simming in VR," says Jorg. "Looking over your shoulder for the runway, looking through the side windows for orientation … the actual movement and muscle memory are very similar to flying real planes. VR is making flight simulation a true-to-life experience, and with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PS VR2, console players can experience this incredible sensation for the first time."
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