Description:
The Microsoft Flight Simulator Game of the Year (GOTY) Edition was a major, free update for all existing owners of the simulator, and it became the standard base version for all new purchases. It was released to celebrate the positive reception and awards the game received, while also incorporating highly requested community features.
The GOTY Edition significantly expanded the content and features of the simulator:
New Aircraft (5 total)
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Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet: The game's first high-performance military jet.
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VoloCity: An electric urban air taxi (eVTOL) prototype from Volocopter.
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Pilatus PC-6 Porter: A versatile utility aircraft known for its Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) capabilities.
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CubCrafters NX Cub: A rugged bush-flying aircraft that introduced a nosewheel option.
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Aviat Pitts Special S1S: A single-seat aerobatic biplane.
New Handcrafted Airports (8 total)
The update added highly detailed, handcrafted airports in both Europe and the United States:
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Germany: Leipzig/Halle (EDDP), Allgäu Airport Memmingen (EDJA), Kassel Airport (EDVK).
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Switzerland: Lugano (LSZA), Zurich (LSZH), Luzern-Beromunster (LSZO).
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United States: Patrick Space Force Base (KCOF), Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (KNKX).
New Activities and Learning
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Discovery Flights: Six additional scenic Discovery Flights were added to new locations like Helsinki, Mecca, Monument Valley, and Singapore.
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Tutorials: Fourteen new tutorials were introduced to help new players, covering topics like Bush flying and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR).
Key Technical and Feature Upgrades
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Early Access to DirectX 12 (DX12): This was a major technical addition for PC players.
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Updated Weather System: The live weather and atmospheric model received significant improvements.
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Dev Mode Replay System: A new feature for content creators and developers to record and replay flights.
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New Photogrammetry Cities: Several cities received significant visual enhancements using photogrammetry, including Helsinki, Brighton, Derby, Newcastle, and Utrecht.
The GOTY Edition essentially bundles all of the content and updates released since the game's original launch, providing a richer experience for new players and a major free expansion for existing ones.