While watching the video, I told myself that it is a beautiful evolution of this simulator and it’s not over.
Thank you Microsoft and now Asobo for this wonderful simulation.
Happy birthday.
That’s good to know. If BBT ever did an episode with an aged cast, he’d be front runner for Howard.
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What a time to have flight sims as a hobby.
Today is an exciting day for us, I cannot wait for the update to release!
Happy birthday MSFS. Thank you for making me dream since 1998 
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On this 40th Anniversary of Flight Simulator, it seems appropriate to remember and thank Tim “Beatles” Gregson, for his massive contribution to Flight Simulation.
Tim began working as a software developer on FS at Sublogic, along side Bruce, and then followed the Franchise, working on all the Microsoft Versions of FS, including FSX.
Part of the Aces Games Studio at Microsoftm, when Aces and FSX were shut down, he went on to work for Lockheed on P3D.
Tim was also a very active , contributing member of the FS community, developing addition resources for FS in his own leisure time, and was well know in the FS community.
A google search for Tim Gregson will find many references to his Contribution to Flight Simulator.
Thanks Tim, and “Thanks for all the fish” 
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I’ve been flying MFS since 1993, it’s the reason I fell in love with aviation and became a pilot. Glad it’s still around and love the newest iteration, HBD MFS
What will it be like in 40 years ?
Well, all those wonderful costal airports will be underwater. Most of Florida, where I live, will be submerged and lots of land mass that we now see and enjoy will be gone too. There will be a huge demand for pontoon aircraft. … and us smart little humans did it. Smile
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Whats happy about this when us xbox users are gonna get screwed when this updates today
Happy 40th Anniversary MSFS! I first experienced you on an Apple IIe and have owed every version since then. Thank you to everybody who has helped to bring us this wonderful adventure.
I thought this update is going to work equally on all platforms? I’m confused.
Its crazy when you think how far games like MSFS have come since Amiga etc days and then you try to think how they will be in another 40 years.
There has to be a point where graphics and visuals become so perfect that there is no improvement to be made, at which point, surely physics and AI is refined further?
Can’t remember exactly where I read it, but I remember some publication stating that theoretically to simulate the earth, you’d need a computer the size of Mars lol. But then thats a very generic theory “to simulate the earth”, I mean what does that even mean.
No need to be confused. He’s probably talking about the “visual downgrade” on Xbox.
In terms of visual fidelity, it’s like diminishing returns as we progress more and more. Sure we have come a lot in 40 years, but if we consider how much visual improvements we have got in last 10 years, it pales in comparison to the progress made in the 30 years before that. I don’t know if I can explain myself properly, but it’s like an exponential curve where a lot of effort nets us little improvement in visual fidelity in these days. So yes, improvements will always be there but now its more about experience than pure visual fidelity. For example what MSFS is doing by trying to model the whole world, that may get better, the simulation may include more things, we may be able to have a driving game which models the whole world including all roads and buildings. And ofcourse things like VR which will get better and better.
40yrs, what a milestone… Keep up the great work MS/Asobo , and congrats to you all behind the scenes.
I’m not an xbox user. I’ve nothing against consoles, but I barely have enough time for PC gaming, let alone console gaming, so I don’t follow any of the xbox threads. I was not aware of an xbox visual downgrade.
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Happy 40th Anniversay.
As we celebrate this today, with the anticipation and excitement of SU11 and all the other “New Toys” – let us not forget that today is also Veterans Day …
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Who would have ever thought 40 years ago that such a detailed level of our Earth would be implemented in a private flight simulator. Hats off for the developers of the sim over the years and specialy for the current version of Microsoft flight simulator.
Great achievements over the years I have been along for the ride from the beginning. First look 40 years ago Las Vegas convention centre trying to land on a carrier. Thanks for the ride and hoping for another 10 years?
I second that. Big thank you to all U.S. armed forces on Veterans Day! Thanks to all of you serving in domestic and foreign roles, keeping our world safe. o7
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