Microsoft initially rejected a pitch to deliver Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 to PlayStation consoles, however the firm finally agreed, and this led to a “complete avalanche” of Xbox video games on PlayStation. That is in keeping with Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator Jorg Neumann.
He instructed XDA-Developers that it was his personal concept to deliver Flight Simulator to PlayStation consoles, culminating with the launch of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 right now, December 8, on PS4 and PS5.
The 2020 Flight Simulator sport finally grew to develop into 300 GB in measurement, and there was a lot content material deliberate that Neumann mentioned the sport might develop to develop into 1 TB. So as a substitute of doing that, the crew made a brand new sport, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and the sport now solely has 8 GB of house for a requirement, with every thing else despatched to the cloud. This manner of packaging the sport allowed the sport to return to different platforms, Neumann mentioned.
“So I proposed, in all probability two and a half years in the past, to go to PlayStation,” he mentioned. “It was in all probability a bit of bit earlier than its time as a result of I used to be instructed no. Then, someone from Sony who grew up with flight simulation thought it will be an ideal addition to the Sony portfolio. They reached out proactively to our president, who then got here again to me and mentioned, ‘Hey, bear in mind once we talked concerning the PlayStation factor a yr in the past? Sony can be .'”
It was this very dialog that Neumann believes “kicked off a complete avalanche of Xbox titles coming to PlayStation,” even when Flight Simulator would not find yourself being the primary.
Microsoft began bringing extra of its video games to PlayStation (and Swap in some instances) earlier in 2025, together with Grounded, Sea of Thieves, and Forza Horizon 5. Microsoft additionally introduced Doom: The Darkish Ages to PS5 this yr, together with The Outer Worlds 2.
Seeking to 2026, Microsoft will launch Halo: Marketing campaign Developed on PS5, representing the Halo franchise’s debut on a rival console platform. It should launch day-and-date with the Xbox version of the sport subsequent yr.
For its half, Microsoft has mentioned it determined to deliver Xbox video games to PlayStation and Swap as a result of it needed to meet players where they are. The PS5 has bought significantly extra models than the Xbox Sequence X|S, so bringing Xbox video games to that platform is a boon for Microsoft’s enterprise.
Microsoft CFO Amy Hood has reportedly mandated that Xbox earn more money, which can assist clarify the push for extra multiplatform releases, together with the current Recreation Move worth will increase, Xbox console worth will increase, layoffs, studio closures, and publishing deal cancellations of late.