Whether you’re learning to keep a Cessna level or wringing realism out of an airliner, these fifteen tips and tricks will help you fly smarter on PS5.

Start with “All Assists” On If You’re New

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is generous to any aspiring aviators on PS5, bundling in a suite of assistance options including an “All Assists” pre-set. This doesn’t just make flying easier; turned on, if you’re a novice pilot it’ll free your brain to focus on the fundamentals: pitch, roll, power, airspeed, and how these elements and more interact. Like stablisers on a bike, “All Assists” will keep you comfortably airborne until you’re confident enough to peel them off.

Assistance Can Be Tuned for Realism, Too

If you’re an expert jumping across from a PC, or simply chasing the most authentic flying experience, MSFS 2024 offers a deep selection of settings beyond the presets. You can turn off everything from yoke sensitivity assistance and fuel automixing, to visual navigation aids and flight planning help. The PS5 version is built with fine control in mind; its aid settings function like a realism gradient rather than a collection of on-off switches. So, if it’s authenticity you’re after but, you know, you don’t want your engine to be stress damaged, there’re tweaks that’ll match your goal – just spend some time in the options tailoring toward your desired experience.

Fix the Hypersensitive Cursor

This one’s a quality-of-life essential. Because the simulation relies heavily on cockpit interaction, the cursor – when enabled – effectively becomes your mouse. The default setting, however, is absurdly sensitive. Within Settings, go to Accessibility, then Effects and Animations, then Cursor Settings – you’ll then be able to finetune Cursor Acceleration and Max Speed until interactions feel controlled. This single adjustment makes navigating the game’s sub-menus and, later, cockpit switch interaction and inputs vastly more manageable.

Transcribe the Tutorials, If Needed

The lesson workflow is one of MSFS 2024 PS5’s strengths, but in its attempt to onboard new pilots as swiftly as possible it does fire information relentlessly. Don’t hesitate to pause, grab your phone (or old-school pen and paper), and jot down input combinations for critical interactions or accessing sub-menus. You don’t need to memorise entire start-up procedures or taxiing protocol – the game prompts when required – but noting commands for switching camera modes or accessing the cockpit’s PFD saves time and avoids future mishaps, like accidentally using a shortcut to switch off your engine mid-flight.

Again, If You’re New, Spend Your Early Hours in Cockpit View

External cameras are great for sightseeing – and you’ll be doing plenty of that throughout – but cockpit view is where your skills develop. Every instrument reading – airspeed, vertical speed, RPM, altitude – teaches you something about the aircraft’s behaviour. And while, yes, most of these readings are visible via on-screen HUD even when the camera is trailing, new pilots tend to over-correct. Flying visually, rather than instrumentally, feels a bit like searching for a lightswitch in the dark. It’s best to stick with cockpit view early on as you’ll develop those instincts that make pitch correction, course adjustment, landing, and, yes, finding that metaphorical lightswitch far easier later.

The In-Flight Toolbar Can Be Customised

The In-Flight Toolbar includes functions like a weather panel, PFD shortcut, camera adjustments, ATC prompts, and it can be customised via the cog button with the option to add or remove panels. This matters on PS5 because controller navigation – as alluded to earlier – isn’t as precise as a mouse. A personalised toolbar streamlines the experience with fewer pauses, less confusion, and cleaner overall rhythm.

Finetune Your DualSense

The DualSense is surprisingly capable for flight simulation, but its default sensitivities won’t be suitable for all. Much like the Cursor, if you’re struggling to match the controller’s reaction to your movements, there are tweakable options for thumbstick sensitivity, trigger responses, touchpad zones, dead zones, curves, and acceleration. Above all, these changes impact comfort. If you’re consistently over-banking or over-correcting, adjusting sensitivity curves to smooth out your inputs might make the aircraft feel more predictable.

Dial In The Gyro Settings

The DualSense’s Gyro controls can make lateral manoeuvres feel more natural – as if you’re handling the controller like a yoke. It’s undeniably a divisive control system, but just like the finetunings just-mentioned, MSFS 2024 PS5 gives access to every variable – sensitivity, neutral position, dead zone, and extremity dead zone are all customisable. A few minutes of experimentation is all it takes to find your sweet spot. Don’t skip on Gyro until you’ve dialled it in; for many players, it unlocks a more immersive method of control.

Alternate Between Missions and Career Certifications

This one is kinda forced by certifications costing credits, and credits are earned by completing Missions, but MSFS 2024’s progression loop also enforces structure. In Career Mode, certifications introduce access to more specialisations and long-term improvement, while Missions place those skills into challenges. Switching between the two keeps the loop fresh. You’re given enough Missions to keep you busy for a lifetime, even without levelling up. By undertaking certifications you’ll learn new skills; in missions, you’ll sharpen them.

Use Free Flight Mode for Structured Practice

Free Flight isn’t just for sightseeing. It’s a controllable test environment for take-off procedure, pattern work, landing practice, or experimenting with different aircraft types. Starting options matter too – choosing parked, runway, or airborne lets you tailor the session for whatever you need to work on. These small tweaks ensure your training is far more efficient.

Complete Every Stage of a Job for Maximum Credits

You’ll realise this after you’ve completed your first missions, but in each job you’re able to skip pre-flight walkarounds, taxiing, or long cruise legs. However, doing so cuts your payout. If you’re grinding for credits to afford new aircraft or certifications, then stick to completing every procedure. It takes longer – some runway departures feel miles away from parked – but the reward scales accordingly. Plus, completing Missions to their fullest reinforces good habits and procedural understanding.

Use Custom Views for Cockpit Awareness

Tapping L1 + a D-pad direction during flight allows instant access to incredibly useful panel views – cockpit gauges, throttle levers, GPS screens – or external runway and window checks before landing. These custom views reduce the amount of camera wrestling you’ll need to do otherwise with the camera in freeform mode. Some of those readings – like engine RPM – aren’t available on the external HUD too, meaning situational awareness demands a quickview solution.

Master Trim Adjustments as Early as Possible

Trim is the most crucial adjustment which ensures stable flight. It’s a system which, when tweaked, aligns the aircraft’s natural pitch tendency, removing the need for constant thumbstick pressure. Before trim, you’ll be pressing the left thumbstick for entire flights. Once you understand it, you’ll realise you’ve been battling needlessly – cruising becomes second nature, flights are more meditative, and you’ll be more hands-off to engage with the scenery below. Learning trim is the biggest quality of life update you can give yourself.

Choose the Right Specialisations if You Want to Earn Money Fast

If your aim is to earn credits efficiently, then you should prioritise VIP and cargo work. They’re the most lucrative. While other paths are arguably more engaging – rescue operations, firefighting, even sightseeing – ferrying important people and shipments are your go-to for credit generation.

Check the Marketplace for Free Content

The Marketplace isn’t just an ecosystem for paid-for upgrades – there’s a handful of free city and world updates direct from Microsoft that are migrating across for PS5 players. These packs expand geologic detail – more points of interest, sharper terrain – with additional activities unlocked once they’re acquired. It isn’t just free content, but it broadens the sim meaningfully.

But look, despite Xbox establishing the shift to couch aeronautics, Microsoft Flight Simulator on PlayStation still feels unusual. It’s a living, breathing simulation built for flightsticks and multi-monitor rigs, not sofas and TVs. So, as I taxied toward my first take-off, DualSense in hand, questions hung in the air: can the feel of flight genuinely translate through a television? Will a controller give any real sense of being airborne? Might my living room, even briefly, pass as a cockpit?

"Starting your career, you’ll choose which of the game’s regional airports to use as headquarters."

I admit, at first it felt too novel. Then, lifting off with the ground shrinking beneath me, MSFS’s methodical simulation became unexpectedly transformative. I realised that its casual appeal is not in reading navigation charts or understanding what each switch and gizmo does, it’s in staring at the world beneath you.

Starting your career, you’ll choose which of the game’s regional airports to use as headquarters. I chose an airfield near Gotemba, Japan, in the shadow of Mt. Fuji, figuring the iconic mountain will make an impressive backdrop. Once missions became available, I was directed to Tokyo to shuttle flightseeing passengers over the surrounding scenery. An optional flight plan crossed over Koganei, and I chose it immediately. See, my friend lives there, I don’t know which house, nor have I visited, but it was a sense of wondering which drew me in.

Soaring overhead, I hoped this transcendence would encourage me to study the cockpit, the function of its switches still a mystery. Back at base, awaiting were copious certifications which, as a casual pilot, I initially found overwhelming.

Yet, you don’t make it to Top Gun by flying as a maverick, so I hunker down for more training. MSFS 2024 had already done a decent job of orienteering around the Cessna 172 Skyhawk, walking me through the starter plane’s pre-flight checks, and teaching me the fundamentals – airspeed management, executing pitch, rolling, following traffic patterns, and more. Even before my trip over Koganai, I could already take-off and land with conviction.

"Once I became proficient enough to keep the aircraft consistently stable and on-route, the sky opened up."

Passing the next certification ensures I now get paid for ferrying passengers, with lessons covering trim adjustment, a system enabling stable altitude without constant thumbstick pressure – engine RPM monitoring, and landmark navigation.

By this point I’d already noticed a handful of gameplay imperfections, which I’ll leave in holding pattern for now, but during these lessons I found engaging the engine RPM unintuitive. I pinpointed missing HUD info as the origin of my stagnation. See, beyond the cockpit’s diegetic display, the default on-screen HUD’s icons – detailing airspeed, fuel load, altitude, et cetera – don’t include RPM. To correctly follow my instructor’s command of maintaining 1,700 RPM, I zeroed-in on the top-left corner of my cockpit’s display. The number is too small to read from the sofa without switching camera view, steepening my learning curve while highlighting an accessibility oversight.

I abandoned my gaze on the horizon to check the throttle lever, instantly faltering my altitude. So, as a workaround, I started listening to the engine,  developing intuition, perhaps; but almost-certainly against the game’s intention. And, a deeper problem: I could only hear the engine at top revs – an issue I’ll get to later.

Yet, despite this, I reached a critical turning point. Once I became proficient enough to keep the aircraft consistently stable and on-route, the sky opened up. Cruising over the Arizonian expanse became meditative; I was now able to absorb the game’s gorgeous scenery and lighting. Rolling my Cessna toward Sedona, sunset cascaded through the cockpit with canyons below decorated by sparkling lens flares.

Later activities saw me passing over German forests as needlesharp rain beat the Cessna’s wind-shield. I streamed over the Great Barrier Reef’s azure blue, hovered beside the Pyramids during golden hour, and searched for wolves at daybreak over Northern Spain – each excursion visually engrossing. Now the shaky flying of my early career is behind me, the game’s promise of flying anywhere became a tangible, transportive reality.

To answer the first of those earlier questions, can the feel of flight genuinely translate through a TV? – I’d say it can. Visually, the game looks remarkably accomplished given it is drawing detail from the cloud, though frequent texture pop-in and distant low-resolution curtail its implementation. It can take a while to get to the point where you’re navigating calmly, long loading times on the base PS5 notwithstanding. But once you’re cruising, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 captivates beyond the code of its simulation.

Now, to answer the next question. Can the DualSense give tangible airborne feeling?  I’ll need to go over those imperfections alluded to earlier.

"3D audio exists but isn’t deeply implemented. Worse, headphones expose an uneven sound mix that’s not as perceptible through TV speakers."

I’ve never flown a plane in real-life, but I imagine the nuance required to maintain smooth transit replicates well in MSFS 2024. It’s all thumbstick micro-adjustments and tentative trigger presses; being cautious not to over-correct a wayward trajectory, rolling at 20 degree precision, gently adapting RPM, carefully adjusting trim percentage – as a player now chasing piloting perfection, managing these systems became as crucial to my engagement as scanning the scenery. Yet, the game’s failure to fully embrace the DualSense’s sensory potential leaves my pursuit of flawless flying feeling oddly disjointed

Haptic feedback does give runway tarmac a tactile feel, which is more noticeable if you accidentally veer off the strip onto gravel or grass. Yet, its complete non-existence in-flight, save for subtle flap or landing gear clunks, is jarring. Rudder resistance is felt through the triggers, but its application is limited in scope. You don’t use them much unless your plane naturally sways left or right. Helicopters use the triggers to steer, but their resistance is lighter.

Better implemented are ATC instructions which cut through the DualSense’s on-board speakers, while cockpit warnings flash through the light-ribbon. 3D audio exists but isn’t deeply implemented. Worse, headphones expose an uneven sound mix that’s not as perceptible through TV speakers.

During cruising speed, the engine’s hum becomes a whisper, while robotic passengers perforate my eardrums with their non-plussed musings. Sound levels can be tweaked, of course, but there’re no adjustments which encourage more audible engine noise. Combined with inert haptics, the sensory rush of flight never truly materialises. Whether gliding through clement airstreams or wrestling with turbulence, tactile reactions don’t emerge. MSFS 24 is a simulation which nails the visuals, but forgets the visceral.

You could argue that a controller isn’t the “correct” way to fly. Perhaps the tactility missing in the DualSense will be felt through a peripheral flightstick. Now, the only peripheral currently supported on PlayStation is the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS 4, and despite its modest pricepoint, I’m going to guess that most PS5 players don’t own one. So, MSFS 2024 on PS5 must do more to embrace DualSense’s immersive potential. The experience isn’t killed outright, but its underutilisation undersells the overall experience.

I’ve noticed a handful of other bugs too: my aircraft spawned 3ft above ground, crashing before the instructor finished her briefing; dark shadows surrounded my avatar during a snowy photoshoot; ATC operatives talked over each other, delivering a vocal mashup impossible to decode; a game-ending crash halted my first-ever mission. The most confidence shattering was a black screen appearing mid-way through my first flight, pitch dark for a minute before resuming. I’m unsure if this was by design, but it lingered on my mind.

"During cruising speed, the engine’s hum becomes a whisper, while robotic passengers perforate my eardrums with their non-plussed musings."

Yet, as broad as these irritations are, they’re infrequent enough not to be deal-breakers. On PS5, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is imperfect, occasionally obtuse, and sometimes rough around the edges. It’s also the closest PlayStation players have ever come to the real sensation of flight. Did my living room transform into a metaphorical cockpit? Partially, DualSense’s underwhelming implementation can’t replicate a HOTAS setup, with some readability issues genuinely holding back the experience. Yet, the world, the weather system, and the slowly blossoming sense of mastery make MSFS 2024 utterly absorbing.

It’s more than a technical curio now. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PS5 is a journey, one that nudges you persistently, whether you’re casual or veteran, toward your own piloting zenith.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

First up, the new vehicles, which include the Ferrari 296 GT3 ’23 and 296 GTB ’22, the FIAT Panda 30 CL ’85, the Gran Turismo F3500-B, the Mine’s BNR34 GT-R N1 base, the Mitsubishi FTO GP Version R ’97, the Polestar 5 Performance ’26, and the Renault Espace F1 ’95. You’ll be able to take these for a spin on Yas Marina Circuit and Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.

Both have new events to partake in, including:

• European Sunday Cup 400: Goodwood Motor Circuit
• Japanese FF Challenge: Blue Moon Bay Speedway – Infield A
• Nissan GT-R Cup: Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve
• Ferrari Circuit Challenge: Yas Marina Circuit
• World Touring Car 800: Yas Marina Circuit
• Super Formula: Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve
• Gr.1 Prototype Series: Yas Marina Circuit

The Collector Level has been raised from 50 to 75, and as you’ve probably surmised already, that means new Extra Menus in GT Cafe. Check out the full list below, which includes some world-famous brands:

• Extra Menu No. 48: Alfa Romeo Legends（Collector Level 70)
• Extra Menu No. 49: Legendary Road Racers（Collector Level 66 and above)
• Extra Menu No. 50: Audi TT（Collector Level 52 and above)
• Extra Menu No. 51: Mazda（Collector Level 57 and above)

This is all in addition to Weekly Challenges, which include limited-time online events; the Data Logger for checking their racing lines, speed, brake inputs, and more in real-time during Time Trial, Licenses and Circuit Experience; and Dunlop Tires.

As for the paid Power Pack, which goes live on the same day, it will retail for $29.99. Considering it includes five million Credits worth more than $40, you can truly keep the change. Polyphony also confirmed that you can purchase “six unique cars specifically tuned by Gran Turismo” by collecting Stars from DLC races.

While there are more similarities than differences between Sony’s and Microsoft’s architectures, we couldn’t help but compare the two in an effort to understand how well the experience has translated to the newer machine. To that end, we present a full graphical analysis of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on the PS5 and PS5 Pro, and compare those results with the Xbox Series X/S and PC versions.

Microsoft Flight Simulator is a rather technologically advanced game, and it’s built using an evolved version of the developer’s in-house engine which combines a rather sophisticated physics framework alongside real-time world data from Azure to create a surprisingly authentic flight experience. Even though the engine was built specifically for Xbox and PC, the game’s transition to PS5 is a rather smooth one.

The moment-to-moment experience on PS5 (and by extension, the PS5 Pro) is largely comparable to what we see on Microsoft’s console, but there are a few minor differences that one can pick out related to how the texture loading and world streaming work on the newer machine. 

To put things into context, at launch last year we tested the game on a PC with an AMD Ryzen 5950X, a GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, and 32 GB of RAM—hardware that’s more than capable of handling such a demanding title. We turned the resolution up to a full 4K while setting the DLSS setting to Quality Mode, and put most of the other settings to Ultra. We also set the Terrain and object level of detail to 200. We toned down certain effects, like Windshield effects, to medium quality, while the glass cockpit refresh rate is kept at High.

When it comes to the visual presentation, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a very computationally taxing experience and it continues to push every platform to its limits. While the visuals are largely similar across both consoles, there are subtle differences in how Xbox and PS5’s texture and light quality are rendered, and how they maintain the stability of LOD transitions – but these differences are only noticeable when we look closely at the same scenario across platforms.

The PS5 and Xbox Series X both utilize mesh shaders and advanced texture streaming optimizations to handle the game’s dense geometry at a large scale, but developer Asobo seems to have optimized the Xbox pipeline to match the experience that exists on PC. The PS5 version is most likely using a translation layer to accommodate for Sony’s GPU API since the engine was never built around that hardware, but we are happy to report that the performance is mostly uncompromised.

That being said, we did observe visible pop-in artifacts when flying over densely populated areas. These instances are minor but can manifest as momentary reductions in distant object sharpness or a dip in cloud fidelity as the engine prioritizes essential data first. The Xbox Series X handles these transitions slightly more gracefully, and that’s most likely due to the absence of a translation layer that sits between the source code and the hardware which gives the machine a little more compute to work with.

The PC version – unsurprisingly –  stands out from the lot thanks to raw horsepower and the flexibility of configuration. With our RTX 3080 Ti test bench and our graphics configuration from launch, the game maintained consistently higher draw distances than what we saw on PS5 alongside cleaner volumetric cloud rendering at Ultra settings. The DLSS implementation is great; the DLSS quality mode does a great job of upscaling a lower resolution image with minimal artifacting. Even at identical nominal settings, geometric complexity and photogrammetry data loads were faster on PC simply because the platform is not bound by the same memory bandwidth constraints as the consoles. Still, Asobo’s engine is remarkably efficient, and the gap between PC and consoles here is narrower than what we see in many visually intensive titles.

Switching gears over to the rendering resolution, both PS5 and Xbox Series X target a dynamic 4K presentation with image upscaling while the PS5 Pro aims for a higher internal resolution and that results in more stable performance at higher pixel counts. Under demanding weather conditions, such as storms which trigger post-processing effects and volumetrics – the base consoles drop internal resolution slightly, but the reconstruction techniques help minimizing the visible artifacts during gameplay. The PS5 Pro, on the other hand, doesn’t shudder like this, and you can expect a more stable image output on it.

Lighting remains one of Microsoft Flight Simulator’s most striking features, and the comparison between platforms reveals a couple of noteworthy differences. The PS5 versions share the same GI implementation as the Series X, but some scenarios exhibit marginally softer shadowing on Sony’s machine which could hint at some optimization shortcomings – though it isn’t too severe. The PC version flaunts higher resolution shadow maps and superior screen-space reflections, resulting in a more grounded and realistic look, which particularly excels during sunrise and sunset.

Another key element of the rendering is the vegetation and water surfaces. While foliage density is largely identical between PS5 and Series X, the PC version can push significantly thicker tree coverage and more varied grass LOD transitions without noticeable performance hits. Water rendering is likewise more refined on PC, with more consistent reflections and wave simulations under ultra settings. That said, the PS5 Pro’s enhanced GPU headroom allows it to come surprisingly close to high-end PC settings.

The one area that remains quite consistent across all platforms is the world streaming experience, which is great since it’s one of the most important and technically challenging parts of the presentation. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has to stream massive amounts of data from Azure servers, and the quality of the user’s internet connection plays a significant role in how smoothly terrain and photogrammetry load. Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X handle streaming admirably, with efficient caching and background loading that minimize visible pop-in, and you can expect the same performance on the PS5 Pro.

Texture quality is another point of comparison, and the story of comparable results continues. On both PS5 and Series X, texture quality is impressive, but the Xbox version occasionally loads higher-resolution textures slightly faster during rapid camera movements when the PS5 version can have slightly delayed texture streams in extremely dense cities. These delays are brief and typically self-correct within seconds, but they remain one of the few visual discrepancies between the two consoles. The PS5 Pro has additional horsepower, so these occurrences are almost non-existent. PC naturally tops the comparison here with instant texture loading and sharper surface details at close range.

Loading times also saw noticeable variance between platforms. The PS5 definitely has a higher throughput on paper, but the Xbox specific optimizations help in significantly reducing the load times on Microsoft’s machine. Booting into a flight from the main menu was consistently a few seconds faster on Xbox Series X as compared to Sony’s machine, and can be attributed to great use of Microsoft’s Velocity Architecture. The PS5 Pro further improves on these load times, shaving off an additional couple of seconds thanks to improved bandwidth and better decompression throughput – but it still doesn’t match the results we see on Xbox Series X.

On the PC side, load times scale heavily with the hardware configuration. Our Ryzen 5950X and fast NVMe drive combination delivers great results that are largely comparable to that of the Xbox (we tested this over several runs). This can be attributed to both optimizations made for DirectStorage API and the sheer capacity of high-end PC hardware to brute-force data processing, especially when dealing with large terrain pools. 

Texture quality is another point of comparison, and the story of comparable results continues. On both PS5 and Series X, texture quality is impressive, but the Xbox version occasionally loads higher-resolution textures slightly faster during rapid camera movements when the PS5 version can have slightly delayed texture streams in extremely dense cities. These delays are brief and typically self-correct within seconds, but they remain one of the few visual discrepancies between the two consoles. The PS5 Pro has additional horsepower, so these occurrences are almost nonexistent. PC naturally tops the comparison here with instant texture loading and sharper surface details at close range.

Loading times also showed noticeable variance across runs, largely because the game pulls real-time data from Azure servers. Factors like internet speed and third-party services can either accelerate or slow down the process, making it difficult to produce a strictly uniform comparison across platforms.

When examining frame rate stability, both consoles target 30fps. The PS5 and Xbox Series X achieve this target with impressive consistency, though the Series X enjoys slightly fewer dips under extreme streaming conditions. These dips are minor, but they do appear more frequently on the PS5, especially in scenarios where post-processing effects or volumetric effects end up pushing the GPU to its limits. 

As mentioned earlier, the PS5 Pro targets a dynamic 4K resolution at 30fps, and it performs markedly better than the base PS5, remaining locked for the vast majority of our tests. Since it doesn’t have to reduce its internal rendering resolution as often as the PS5 or Xbox Series X, image clarity is visibly improved. Even in demanding scenes with intense volumetrics, the PS5 Pro maintains its composure, resulting in a consistently smooth experience. 

In conclusion, the PS5 version of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 stands tall alongside the Xbox and PC versions. It delivers a decently optimized experience that remains faithful to Asobo’s vision. Despite a few minor differences in texture loading and world streaming responsiveness, the game offers a near-identical level of fidelity – making it another successful port of a previously Xbox exclusive to Sony’s platform.

Full DualSense Integration

MSFS’s maiden flight on PlayStation is a simulation more than visuals. Asobo Studio is embracing the PS5 DualSense controller’s full suite of immersive features. Adaptive triggers will respond to varying aircraft speeds, surface types, and air resistance. Instructions from Air Traffic Control will cut through the DualSense’s on-board speakers, while gyro control, light bar support, and a customisable touchpad underline the feeling of sitting in a real-life cockpit.

Additions to Career Mode

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 introduced an all-new career system, with Simmers able to access a near-limitless number of missions and activities all over the world. Particularly useful for PS5 first-timers, MSFS 2024 also includes numerous easy-to-follow lessons – helping new pilots find their wings in many different types of aircraft. Beginning with a private pilot’s license, MSFS 2024’s structured progression leads to specialised aircraft, tougher missions, then company and aircraft management the more certificates and ratings are acquired. In MSFS 2024 you start small; but, the sky’s the limit.

Expanded Mission Types

Gaining experience and building reputation unlocks specialised careers across a range of aviation-based activities: skillfully drop payloads of water onto raging wildfires or use those same skills for aerial accuracy to crop-dust; meet the timely demands of efficient navigation by transporting cargo or injured passengers en route to hospital; undergo search and rescue operations, aerial construction, or ferry flights, all across a spectrum of vehicles – light aircraft, multi-engine aeroplanes, helicopters, and more.

Largest Fleet Ever

Launching with the same 125-strong fleet as featured on Xbox and PC, on PS5 you’ll experience the stomach-tumbling agility of ultralight aircraft, develop your patience and expertise for long haul airliners, or seize the supersonic thrill of military fighter jets. Helicopters, Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOLs) – think, modestly-sized, futuristic-looking airships which take flight like the Harrier jump jet – plus steerable hot air balloons, gliders, bush planes, and more. Also, coinciding with MSFS 2024’s PS5 launch is the all-new Boom Supersonic XB-1 – America’s first civil supersonic jet, capable of breaking the sound barrier.

Full Global Simulation

Throughout its four-decade existence, Microsoft Flight Simulator has always strived toward rendering the globe in striking realism. MSFS 2024 was positioned to fully realise this enduring mission, but – on Xbox and PC – technical hiccups have scuppered the sim’s presentation. Regardless, Asobo Studio is determined to bring MSFS’s “fly anywhere” ethos to PlayStation. Their pledge: all seven continents, 40,000 airports and runways, and over 60,000 helipads – from Preston, England, to the Pyramids – at any time of day, with real-time, real-world air-traffic – all delivered in seamless, stunning detail. However, a word of caution: you won’t know if the PS5 and PS5 Pro will suffer similar shortcomings until you take flight on December 8th.

No Crossplay

Simulation flying is, for all intents and purposes, a solo endeavour, so the effect this has on you will vary compared to others. But, it has been confirmed there will be no crossplay between PS5 and other platforms. See, PS5 is its own ecosystem, meaning the sim’s more competitively-leaning modes – like the new Challenge League mode – will test your skills against other PS5 players only. Still, what’s included in Challenge League should be worthwhile: rally races, landing challenges, and more. Should MSFS 2024’s PS5 version take off, there’ll still be a sizeable leaderboard to climb.

No Cross-Save

Likewise, cross-save will not be supported between PS5 and other platforms – players migrating from Xbox or PC will have to start a new save file. Losing career progress is one thing, but perhaps more concerning is a lack of marketplace transfer; any add-ons, aircraft, or scenery purchased from MSFS 2024’s marketplace on Xbox or PC will need to be repurchased on PS5. Again, your severity will vary with others, but if you’ve accumulated hours of airmiles on Microsoft’s hardware, well, starting from scratch may be too insurmountable a barrier to overcome. Flipping perspectives though: presumably, Microsoft and Asobo Studio are banking on Xbox and PC players being unlikely to flock to PlayStation. There’ll certainly be PC-exclusive players who also own a PS5, and would’ve been looking forward to simming via the convenience of console gaming. If that’s you, feeling let down is fair.

Complete Access to Marketplace on PS5

So, if we ignore the lack of cross-save and instead presume all PS5 players will be launching Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 for the first time, what have they got to look forward to within the sim’s creator ecosystem? Well, it’s a thriving space: first and third-party content can be bought and downloaded, with a “My Library” system making purchases easy to track. Creators can maintain their listed content via upgrades and a partnership program, meaning you’ll always have access to fully functioning content to enrich your experience. The flightsim community are dubious of the marketplace’s overall quality – some items are great, others not so much. If you are scouring the marketplace for the first time and want to know what’s worthy of your hard-earned coin, then Reddit or the MSFS forums are your friend.

VR Support Incoming

VR support for PSVR2 is in-flight, and cleared to land as a free add-on during 2026. No official date has been revealed yet, but seeing as the most positive responses to VR on PC claim it is a game-changer, it’s an exciting addition that’ll hopefully be worth waiting for. Yet, as with the Xbox and PC’s non-VR version, expectations must be measured as there’re reports of technical niggles – buggy mouse control being a consistent complaint. This may not be an issue with PSVR2, though – immersively detailed cockpits and realistic flight dynamics will hopefully dominate conversation over any drawbacks.

Four Game Editions

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will be available to buy in four editions: Standard, Deluxe, Premium Deluxe, and Aviator, ranging from a base of 70 aircraft, 150 bespoke airports, and 30 new MSFS 2024 aircraft, plus upgraded aircraft and airports from MSFS 2020 in the Standard Edition, up to 125 aircraft and 160 airports in Aviator Edition. As you’d expect, the numbers go up with each tier – 70 aircraft becomes 80 in the Deluxe Edition, then 95 in Premium Deluxe, and so on. A full breakdown of the numbers for each Edition is listed on the PlayStation Store. Pricewise, Standard retails at $69.99 / £69.99, Deluxe at $99.99 / £99.99, Premium Deluxe $129.99 / £129.99, and Aviator Edition $199.99 / £199.99. A physical disc edition will be available too.

Pre-Order Bonuses

All MSFS 2024 PS5 pre-orders will receive the Northrop T-38A Talon aircraft. If you know of the aircraft US Air Force pilots used to train with in the 1960s, then the Talon needs no introduction. For everyone else, this twin-seat, twin-engined supersonic jet was instrumental in advanced pilot training, not just in the US, but other global agencies and by NASA. Pre-orders of the Deluxe, Premium Deluxe, and the Aviator Editions also grants five days of early access starting December 3rd.

Filesize is Surprisingly Light 

We say surprisingly, as a game which models the entire Earth with this level of detail would surely surpass the 50GB filesize. However, 50GB is all the space that’s needed to play. The caveat though, in case you haven’t guessed it, is MSFS 2024 will require consistent internet connection to function. See, the world’s assets need to download and render in real-time – a requirement on which the origin of the game’s bugs have been pinpointed. This also means that if you buy the physical copy, digital installation and an internet connection will still be required. A final point: it is confirmed that a Microsoft account or Gamertag will not be required to play on PS5.

Feature Parity

MSFS 2024 PS5 comes a year later than Xbox and PC’s, but all versions no matter the platform are equally feature-rich. Going forward, PlayStation players can expect the same level of developer support as any other platform.

PS5 Pro Enhancements

Details on PS5 Pro-specific enhancements are currently light, but given the power in Sony’s premium home console, you can expect enhanced visual fidelity and shorter loading times – the latter point under the most scrutiny given sluggish load times are a consistent complaint across both Xbox and PC versions.

Accessibility and Assisted Control Features

Amongst the PS5’s accessibility features are visual adjustments with reduced camera movements and effects that can be toggled on-off to suit visual comfort, while audio information can be communicated visually in addition to through the controller. Controls-wise, controller remapping, stick sensitivity adjustments, inverted stick movement, plus the ability to switch off rapid button presses, motion controls, touch controls, vibration, and adaptive triggers should level the playing field for less-able players.

Two techno heads simply bobbing to the steadily growing beat? Blocks that methodically crawl towards the field before unfolding, as two skeletal hands start generating silk with each clear? I vaguely remember a snake of some sort, and much more in-your-face spider depictions, but you also have people emerging from cleared squares to walk away. Don’t even get me started on the chef stage with its progression from chopped fruits to vegetables, and I swear I saw a lizard at some point.

It’s incredibly trippy and should feel like little more than a gimmick, but each stage throughout Journey Mode and beyond feels unique – both overtly and in all the little ways. Each song feels tuned to your progress, evolving as you stack up the clears and even warping if you build too far up, seemingly portraying that internal pressure. Each little note tied to your cursor movement, the satisfying click when locking blocks in place – it’s so subliminally addictive that you might not even realize it on that 50th attempt at Survival on Hard Mode.

"The framework is less interstellar journey and more Big Bang, each milestone Burst creating more Loomis to join in. Multiple areas await, each divided into different levels that you play through consecutively. "

However, despite these notable visual flourishes, Lumines Arises reinforces one core aspect about the franchise: How gosh darned fun it is to play. How unique of a twist it feels on the Tetris formula, subtly rewiring that line-clearing mentality into something more malleable, and how delightful it feels to master. Which I haven’t, but there’s no denying the joy that comes from subconsciously fitting everything in place. It almost makes you wonder how the franchise fell by the wayside for so long without a new entry, much like with Tetris before Effect came along. Was this all just one big plan to revive Meteos, Mizuguchi’s other puzzle masterpiece? Probably.

Regardless, from the outset, Lumines Arise will feel very familiar in structure to Tetris Effect. As a Loomi, you embark on Journey Mode to set other Loomis free. The framework is less interstellar journey and more Big Bang, each milestone Burst creating more Loomis to join in. Multiple areas await, each divided into different levels that you play through consecutively. Blocks carry over between each; the speed gradually increases; and if you’re good enough to stay alive throughout, a high score is generated before moving on to the next area.

Aside from the final areas, each follows this pattern, unified by a singular theme such as Dissonance. The actual gameplay is where Tetris aficionados will face the biggest shock. A 16×10 square playing field awaits, and every single piece is 2×2, comprising four blocks each. If they’re the same color, they merge into a square, awaiting the periodic timeline to sweep across and wipe them out. If they’re not, you’ll need to match them with other corresponding colors. Things start to get interesting when combining other blocks with already established squares, transforming them into larger 3×3 squares, which grant even more points when cleared.

They also contribute to your Burst meter, which works somewhat differently from the Zone mechanic. The board slows down as usual, but instead of suspending line clears to build up even higher scores, you’re trying to further add on to a single square, amplifying it into one giant Burst of light. The opposing color, meanwhile, is transformed into assorted squares and blocks, which can be further chained for a higher score. As with the Zone, Burst lasts longer when activated at a full meter. Anything above 50 percent may be useful as a “get out of jail free” card, but it won’t last as long and thus provide as much of a benefit.

"Combine this with the satisfying presentation and sheer joy of each action, and you’ll want to improve, if only to keep the rhythm going. Again, it’s a simple formula, yet there are layers of depth beyond it that are nothing if not captivating."

In the middle of all this, special blocks attached to a square can be used to connect all corresponding blocks across the board for an easier clear. So even if you’re not as optimal in building 2x2s or 3x3s, causing opposing colored blocks to stick out like so many sore thumbs, it could be the key to a clean slate. Alternatively, turn it to your favor to set up even more chains and build up that Burst meter even faster.

As unorthodox as it can feel at first, Lumines’s gameplay loop remains as addictive as ever – relatively easy to pick up and grasp but difficult to fully master. Combine this with the satisfying presentation and sheer joy of each action, and you’ll want to improve, if only to keep the rhythm going. Again, it’s a simple formula, yet there are layers of depth beyond it that are nothing if not captivating.

Once you’ve cleared Journey Mode, the real meat of Lumines opens up: Survival. Play through all stages in a row and attempt to complete them. It’s the ultimate test but also the only way to really play. Right? The good news is that there are other modes, like Missions, which offer Tutorials for learning various techniques and challenges to put them into practice. For example, one of them involves clearing squares in the middle to hatch a large egg. It’s a simple lesson that teaches you to properly optimize block placement in the best space on the board, given the low travel distance, and it’s a lot easier said than done. Various tougher missions await, and it’s a great way to learn the game while testing your understanding of its mechanics.

Otherwise, you can venture into playlists and curate your own Survival sequence of stages, or venture into online battles to challenge other players. It’s also home to different durations of Time Attack and the new Dig Down, where instead of pieces dropping from above, the board as a whole periodically raises, and you need to keep clearing to survive. The more squares cleared, the bigger the board and the more leeway available to make mistakes, but things only get more difficult as time goes on.

"As a new entry in the franchise, a successor to everything that came before and really just another great puzzler for those who loved Tetris Effect, this comes highly recommended."

Maybe you’ll want to engage in some Loomi-Pon as well – a gachapon mechanic where you spend in-game currency to unlock new cosmetic items to dress up your character. When compared to the larger suite of features available in Tetris Effect: Connected, Lumines Arise can feel smaller, especially since it doesn’t have the largest swathe of experimental modes. There’s also the issue of visibility in certain places, not to mention one stage where the two block colors look so confusingly similar that it can mess you up during Bursts.

Neither of these is enough to deny the greatness of Lumines Arise as a whole, even if they slightly dampen the excitement. As a new entry in the franchise, a successor to everything that came before and really just another great puzzler for those who loved Tetris Effect, this comes highly recommended. By the end of Journey, there’s this message of ascending beyond and embracing the light of hope. Like Tetris Effect, Lumines Arise appeals to a deeper state of mind – one that appreciates the beauty of its sights and sounds, even after getting crushed for the millionth time in Survival.

This game was reviewed on PC.

It’s out on the same day as Spec 3 and offers 24-hour endurance racing for those who want the feeling of Le Mans without leaving their home (or watching Ford vs Ferrari). A new PlayStation Blog post reveals that there’s much more included, namely 50 brand new races in 20 “themed categories inspired by global automotive and motorsport traditions.”

Furthermore, you can partake in full race weekends with practice rounds and qualifiers and take advantage of Gran Turismo Sophy 3.0, Polyphony’s racing AI. The latter’s 2.0 version has been free for base game owners, but they’ll need to pony up for the upgrade.

Finally, and strangely enough, you get 5,000,000 Credits, which equate to more than $40 (though you can earn them in-game for free). Sony has yet to confirm pricing for the Power Pack, but at this point, $40 to $50 looks likely. As always, stay tuned for updates.

Launching alongside the Spec 3 update, which is out on December 4th, the Power Pack is all about real racing. That means you can partake in 24-hour races and other activities geared towards the hardcore crowd. Further details have yet to be revealed, but it appears quite ambitious at first glance.

Gran Turismo 7 is available for PS4 and PS5, and the series has sold a whopping 100 million units as of June 25th. Polyphony Digital didn’t quite break down how much the latest title contributed to that, but it’s still going strong. Check out our review of the base game and our thoughts on it after several years of updates.

The trailer revolves around a mission that Magpie is given to get her hands on an ancient relic that seems to be a major part of the plans of Northcrest. To accomplish this mission, Magpie will have to sneak through the streets and navigate houses that are guarded by patrolling guards before she can ultimately find what she’s looking for.

In the new gameplay trailer, we get a look at the kinds of tools that protagonist Magpie will have access to, which includes a scope that can be used to look out for patrolling guards and find hidden safes in the darkness, as well as other classic Thief-styled tools like an arrow that can be shot to create a quick way to climb up a house, and even water arrows that can be shot into lit lanterns to create areas of darkness.

We also get a good look at the kind of mobility that Magpie will be capable of, which includes being able to scale buildings by making use of loose bricks as footholds. Pipes on the sides of buildings can also be used to gain some verticality in order to reach windows that would be otherwise inaccessible. Along with this, the trailer also shows off how guards can be knocked out by using a blackjack, and how locked doors can be opened up by making use of lockpicks.

Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow was originally announced back in June, when it was also confirmed that it will be coming to PlayStation VR2, PC VR, and Meta Quest 2, 3, and 3S. The title was announced with a trailer that also served as an introduction to new protagonist Magpie, who also happens to be the protege of classic Thief franchise protagonist Garrett.

Shortly after the initial announcement, Garrett’s original voice actor Stephen Russell was returning to reprise the role of the character. In a video, he noted that he had been playing the character in just about every Thief-related thing that had come out over the last 30 years aside from the 2014 reboot, where Romano Orzari took on the role.

“We’ve had a long history together, and it is so delightful to be back with him again,” said Russel in the video, which you can check out below. “I’ve missed the old guy! He’s got such a great sense of humour and they have perfectly captured that in this new game.”

“For me, there’s something about the character that… I mean it was how I got my start in games! So I really owe a lot to this guy, and it’s a huge, huge pleasure to be back voicing Garrett again.”

Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow is slated to feature a story taking place between the events of the original trilogy and the 2014 reboot, according to lead game designer Richard Bunn.

A new deep dive video highlights new mechanics like Burst, which essentially freezes any clears made to maximize one’s score. Unlike the Zone from Tetris Effect, however, it also sends adjacent blocks of the other pattern into the air, which then fall back down.

It may seem like a risk, but it allows for more combos if you know what to do. Beyond Journey Mode, which takes players on a wordless narrative, is Survival Mode, where players run through all the stages without any breaks (complete with leaderboards). You can also partake in Training missions, Challenges or make your own custom playlist of stages.

Of course, there’s Burst Battle, which is playable against the AI or others, and the new Dig Down, where blocks must be cleared to traverse downwards.

Lumines Arise is available on November 11th for PS5 and PC (with VR support). A free demo is available now on PC as part of the Steam Next Fest.