Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 launched on PlayStation 5 on December 8, 2025, marking one of the biggest Xbox exclusives to go multiplatform. But the journey to PlayStation wasn’t smooth. Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator Jorg Neumann revealed in an interview with XDA that he originally pitched a PS5 version early in development, only to have Xbox leadership reject the idea. The situation changed dramatically when Sony directly approached Microsoft asking to bring the series to PlayStation, leading to Xbox finally agreeing.
Neumann believes this decision kicked off what he describes as a whole avalanche of Xbox titles coming to PS5, fundamentally changing Microsoft’s platform strategy. The revelation provides fascinating insight into the internal debates at Microsoft about multiplatform releases and shows how Sony’s direct intervention played a crucial role in breaking down Xbox’s exclusivity walls.
How the PlayStation Port Actually Happened
According to Neumann’s account in the XDA interview, the idea originated with him. When Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 launched on PC in August 2020, it was followed by an Xbox Series X/S version in 2021. That console release revealed a massive new audience of fans who had never engaged with flight simulators simply because they weren’t PC gamers. Seeing this success on Xbox consoles naturally led Neumann to wonder about the PlayStation market.
Early in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024’s development cycle, Neumann pitched creating a PS5 version. Xbox leadership at the time declined, choosing to keep the simulator exclusive to Xbox consoles and Windows PCs. This wasn’t surprising given Microsoft’s historical stance on first-party exclusives and the competitive landscape with Sony. Flight Simulator represented exactly the kind of prestigious title Microsoft wanted to use as a selling point for Xbox hardware and Game Pass subscriptions.
Sony’s Direct Approach Changed Everything
The situation shifted when Sony took the initiative to approach Microsoft directly. According to Neumann, Sony eventually asked whether Microsoft would consider bringing the Flight Simulator series over to PlayStation. When the question came from Sony rather than internal advocacy from Neumann, Xbox finally relented and agreed. This distinction is critical: Xbox said no to their own developer but yes when a business opportunity came directly from a competitor.
Neumann describes this as the moment that started the whole avalanche of Xbox titles coming to PlayStation 5. His characterization suggests this wasn’t just about Flight Simulator but represented a broader strategic shift at Microsoft. If the Flight Simulator precedent hadn’t been set, subsequent multiplatform releases like Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves, Grounded, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle might have faced stronger internal resistance.
The Technical Collaboration
Bringing Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 to PS5 required significant technical work beyond simple porting. Neumann confirmed that Asobo Studio, the primary developer, partnered with Climax Studios to create the PlayStation version. Neumann had prior experience working with Climax on titles like Crackdown, and the studio’s proven track record developing for PS5 made them an ideal partner for this project.
According to Reddit discussions citing additional interviews, Climax Studios worked on the port for over a year before Asobo took over to finalize and optimize the game for the last six months. A closed invite-only beta for PS5 ran for approximately two to three months, allowing PlayStation users to test performance and provide feedback. This extended development timeline ensured the PS5 version wouldn’t be a rushed afterthought but a properly optimized experience.
PlayStation VR2 Support
One of the most exciting aspects of the PS5 release is confirmed PlayStation VR2 support coming in 2026 via a free update. Neumann told interviewers that VR was incorporated from the very start of planning the PS5 version. Sony made clear they have a committed VR community eager for new VR titles and promised substantial backing from that audience. The key technical challenges are frame rates and ensuring user comfort, requiring a minimum of 48 FPS with the goal being 60 FPS through dual rendering.
The PS5 version fully leverages DualSense controller features including adaptive triggers that simulate resistance when pulling back on controls, haptic feedback providing tactile sensations during flight, and the controller speaker playing air traffic control communications. These Sony-specific enhancements show this isn’t just a basic port but a version designed to take advantage of PlayStation hardware capabilities.
The Broader Multiplatform Strategy
Neumann’s revelation fits into Microsoft’s dramatic 2024-2025 shift toward platform-agnostic gaming. In February 2024, Xbox leadership officially announced that four previously exclusive games would come to PlayStation and Nintendo Switch: Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Sea of Thieves, and Grounded. At the time, Phil Spencer emphasized these were community-driven games that had been exclusive for at least a year, framing them as exceptions rather than a new standard.
However, the floodgates opened throughout 2024 and 2025. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle came to PS5 in 2025 just months after its Xbox launch. Rumors and insider reports suggest Halo: The Master Chief Collection is being prepared for PlayStation. Starfield, once positioned as the killer Xbox exclusive that would drive console sales, is now widely expected to eventually go multiplatform after disappointing hardware movement.
Financial Pressures Driving Change
Multiple sources indicate that Microsoft CFO Amy Hood has mandated that Xbox Gaming division generate more revenue, which explains the aggressive multiplatform expansion alongside Game Pass price increases, Xbox console price hikes, studio layoffs, closures, and publishing deal cancellations. The numbers tell the story: Xbox consoles have consistently trailed PlayStation in hardware sales, and the promised Game Pass subscriber explosion never materialized to the degree Microsoft projected.
Reddit discussions about Neumann’s interview speculate that Phil Spencer may have been the Xbox leader who initially rejected the Flight Simulator pitch, with the recent multiplatform surge closely tied to Sarah Bond’s elevation to Xbox president and shifting corporate priorities. Whether Spencer personally made that call or simply represented prevailing Xbox strategy at the time remains unconfirmed, but the timeline fits with Bond’s increased influence corresponding to more aggressive multiplatform moves.
Community Reactions and Industry Impact
The revelation sparked extensive discussion across gaming communities. One highly upvoted Reddit comment sarcastically summarized the exchange: Xbox said no, Sony said yes, Xbox said alright then. Another popular comment joked about Xbox acquiring major studios only for Sony to still get access to the games anyway, highlighting the irony of Microsoft’s expensive studio acquisitions failing to create lasting exclusivity.
Some PlayStation fans expressed satisfaction with Sony’s proactive approach. Comments like “Well played, Sony! Sometimes, a simple request can lead to great outcomes” praised Sony for not accepting no as a final answer and directly negotiating with Microsoft’s decision makers rather than going through Xbox division intermediaries. This business-to-business approach apparently proved more effective than internal advocacy from Microsoft’s own developers.
Xbox Fan Concerns
The news generated more mixed reactions from Xbox-focused communities. Some fans view the multiplatform push as a pragmatic business decision that ensures Microsoft’s games reach larger audiences and generate more revenue. Others see it as abandoning the value proposition that made them invest in Xbox hardware and ecosystems. If every major game eventually comes to PlayStation, what incentive exists to buy an Xbox console versus a PS5?
Microsoft’s messaging has attempted to reframe Xbox as a service rather than just hardware, with the “This is an Xbox” campaign showing that phones, tablets, smart TVs, and PC handhelds can all function as Xbox devices. However, for traditional console enthusiasts who bought Xbox Series X expecting exclusive games, the rapid multiplatform expansion feels like a bait-and-switch regardless of the business logic behind it.
Flight Simulator’s Success on PlayStation
Push Square’s review of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PS5 notes that once the exclusive domain of PC, hardcore sims like this have found comfortable homes on consoles. The PS5 version benefits from launching approximately a year after the troubled Xbox and PC release, bundling in all bug fixes and improvements on day one. The review diplomatically suggests tipping aviator glasses to the beta testers on other platforms who suffered through the rocky launch.
Early demand for the PS5 version appears strong based on social media discussions and pre-order tracking. Flight simulation has a passionate community on PlayStation despite the genre’s historical PC focus, and the promise of PSVR2 support generates particular excitement among Sony’s VR enthusiasts. Neumann’s gamble that a huge PlayStation audience existed for flight simulators looks validated by initial reception.
FAQs
Why did Xbox initially reject Flight Simulator for PlayStation?
Xbox leadership wanted to keep Microsoft Flight Simulator exclusive to Xbox consoles and Windows PCs as a competitive advantage and selling point for their platforms. First-party exclusives are traditionally used to drive hardware sales and ecosystem adoption.
Who approached whom about bringing Flight Simulator to PS5?
Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator Jorg Neumann initially pitched a PS5 version early in development but was rejected by Xbox. Later, Sony directly approached Microsoft asking to bring the series to PlayStation, at which point Xbox agreed.
When does Flight Simulator 2024 release on PS5?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 launched on PlayStation 5 on December 8, 2025. The game is available on PS5 and PS5 Pro with PSVR2 support coming via free update in 2026.
Who developed the PlayStation 5 version?
Asobo Studio, the primary developer, partnered with Climax Studios to create the PS5 version. Climax worked on the port for over a year before Asobo took over for final optimization during the last six months of development.
Does the PS5 version have VR support?
PlayStation VR2 support is confirmed and will arrive in 2026 via a free update. The VR implementation requires minimum 48 FPS with goals of 60 FPS through dual rendering to ensure user comfort and quality experience.
What other Xbox games are coming to PlayStation?
Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Sea of Thieves, Grounded, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle have already released on PlayStation. Insider reports suggest Halo: The Master Chief Collection and potentially Starfield are being prepared for PS5 as well.
Why is Xbox releasing games on PlayStation now?
Microsoft CFO Amy Hood has reportedly mandated that Xbox Gaming generate more revenue. With Xbox console sales trailing PlayStation and Game Pass subscriber growth stalling, multiplatform releases provide access to larger audiences and increased revenue streams.
What PS5 features does Flight Simulator 2024 support?
The PS5 version uses DualSense adaptive triggers for control resistance, haptic feedback for tactile flight sensations, controller speaker for air traffic control communications, and gyro controls for enhanced immersion. It’s optimized for both PS5 and PS5 Pro.
Conclusion
The story of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 coming to PlayStation reveals the complex internal dynamics shaping Xbox’s evolution from traditional console manufacturer to platform-agnostic gaming service provider. Jorg Neumann’s account of pitching the idea only to be rejected, followed by Sony’s direct intervention changing the outcome, illustrates how business relationships and financial pressures can override platform exclusivity strategies. Whether this represents smart adaptation to market realities or abandonment of Xbox’s core value proposition depends on perspective. For Flight Simulator fans on PlayStation, the reasons matter less than the reality: they can finally experience one of gaming’s most impressive simulations on their preferred platform. For Xbox, Flight Simulator’s PlayStation journey marks a pivotal moment that apparently opened the floodgates for many more exclusives to follow. Microsoft’s gaming future clearly lies in reaching players wherever they are rather than forcing them to specific hardware, and Flight Simulator’s path to PS5 exemplifies that transformation.