"Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024" with Playstation VR2: How good is the VR mode?

“Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024” was released in December for Playstation 5 and Playstation 5 Pro. Now, Asobo as announced, has delivered a VR mode for Playstation VR2. This allows the entire simulation to be experienced in virtual reality for the first time without a powerful PC. This makes a significantly cheaper entry into the VR version possible, but it comes with technical compromises.

The VR mode is part of Sim Update 5, which is expected to be released later this week. Those who own the flight simulator on PS5 have been able to participate in the beta of the update and try out the VR mode since Thursday. To achieve this, players only need to install the beta version of the game; there is no registration requirement or access restrictions.

For this article, we tested the beta version of Sim Update 5 on a PS5, focusing primarily on technical aspects. Should anything important change about the VR mode after its release, we will update the article accordingly.

At the Limit of the PS5 (Pro)

Microsoft's flight simulator is known for its visually impressive world simulation, but it places very high hardware demands, especially in PC VR mode. Since the screen version of the game is designed for 30 frames per second on PS5 and PS5 Pro, one should not expect technical miracles from the VR version either.

Significantly higher frame rates are usually required for a smooth VR experience, which is why Asobo, according to its own statements, relies on frame duplication developed specifically for VR mode. Nevertheless, the frame rate and gameplay feel remain close to the screen version and never feel as fluid as one would wish for a VR game. When flying over densely populated areas and large cities like New York City and Tokyo, there can also be noticeable drops in frame rate, which impair the experience and could also trigger motion sickness in sensitive users. Some players also report ghosting as a result of frame duplication and dynamically adjusted resolution depending on system load, which we did not find disruptive.

In terms of resolution, the VR mode also delivers expected technical compromises. Although the flight simulator supports foveated rendering of the PS VR2, the resolution is still rather low, resulting in a very soft landscape image with slight shimmering edges in the distance. This is contrasted by the immersion of the VR mode: the cockpit appears plastic due to its proximity to the player, while the passing landscapes convey an impressive depth and size. Speaking of the cockpit, the larger instruments are readable, but for labels under buttons and the like, users have to lean forward. The displayed resolution is simply not sufficient for this. We tested the flight simulator exclusively on PS5. According to user reports, the higher processing power of the PS5 Pro has little discernible effect on image quality and frame rate.

A factor that should not go unmentioned in the visual context is internet speed. Since the flight simulator streams textures and map data from the cloud, display quality can suffer with low bandwidth. In the official FAQ, Microsoft specifies a bandwidth of 10 Mbit/s as the minimum, 50 Mbit/s as recommended, and 100 Mbit/s as ideal for Flight Simulator 2024. Our internet connection did not affect our test, as the bandwidth was well above the ideal value.

VR Implementation with Breaks

The implementation of menus and controls left mixed impressions. In our experience, you can only switch to VR mode after navigating to the main menu using the DualSense controller. This and most other menus appear on a virtual screen that can be operated with the Sense controllers. Only when flying does the immersive view activate, with the toolbar and HUD also appearing here as (slightly adapted) 2D elements. Pressing the options button causes the game to switch back to screen mode specifically for this, which interrupts visual consistency.

Players can operate all instruments and switches in the cockpit with the Sense controllers, but without visible hands or hand animations. Asobo sticking to this is understandable given the small target audience. The yoke and joystick can be operated either via analog stick or by hand movements.

Alternatively, you can also control the VR mode as usual with the DualSense controller. According to the FAQ, the PS5 version of the flight simulator also supports the Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas 4. Reddit users report that it also works in VR mode.

Due to the unavoidable technical compromises, the PS5's VR mode is certainly not the ultimate version of “Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024”. However, one must give Asobo credit for making the entire content of the 2D version accessible for PS VR2, which is a technical masterpiece in itself. If PS VR2 is compatible with the next console generation, Asobo should find it comparatively easy to improve resolution and frame rate thanks to this groundwork.

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