Above: Microsoft Flight Simulator X
Microsoft’s Flight Simulator games were a staple on the PC for, but it took a nosedive in popularity and the company discontinued the series in 2009. It tried for a revival with Microsoft Flight in 2012, but that game did poorly.
To the delight of flight sim fans, Dovetail Games has licensed the exclusive rights to make all-new flight games based on Microsoft’s flight series. A new game is expected to debut in 2015. If it can revive the franchise, it could turn into a lucrative business and teach big game publishers a lesson in how to make fans happy.
Chatham, England-based Dovetail is the maker of the Microsoft Train Simulator franchise. Under the deal, it has also acquired the right to distribute the Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Gold Edition game, via Valve’s Steam digital distribution channel. That game, first released in 2006, will be known as Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition.
The games were great for training pilots and introducing young people to flight, but they were regularly panned as boring in comparison to combat flight simulators. But the whole category of flight simulators, once a vibrant part of the game landscape, has declined in popularity.
Above: Microsoft Flight Simulator X cockpit view
The Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition will include the Deluxe Edition and the Acceleration Expansion Pack in one bundle. Dovetail Games will debut the Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition on Steam in late 2014.
"I am delighted to be working in partnership with Microsoft as part of this agreement," said Paul Jackson, CEO of Dovetail Games, in a statement. "We are thrilled to be exploring new flight simulation opportunities using Microsoft's technology, and look forward to using our extensive expertise of Steam publishing to successfully bring Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition to a broad new audience on the Steam platform. This partnership is perfectly timed to support our expansion into new areas of simulation."
"When it comes to licensing our simulation engine, Dovetail Games is the obvious choice for us to work with. We respect their approach in terms of delivering premium quality simulation games and look forward to seeing their vision of the next chapter in flight simulations unfold," said Kevin Perry, executive producer at Microsoft, in a statement. "In addition to that, they have repeatedly demonstrated the ability to launch simulation products successfully via online platforms, making them the ideal partner to distribute Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition."
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