Microsoft is getting back into the flight simulator business later this year. Today the company revealed that the PC exclusive game Microsoft Flight will be released in the spring of 2012. Microsoft also confirmed that the game will let players download and play part of the game for free. Specifically, players will be able to fly a plane in the game"s version of the big island of Hawaii. Microsoft Flight players will then be able to purchase and download additional planes and content via Games For Windows Live.
One of the planes that Microsoft Flight players will be able to pilot is the ICON A5, a small plane designed by the same people that designed the X-Prize winning space ship SpaceShipOne. The ICON 5 is an amphibious monoplane that in the real world won"t be ready to fly until the end of 2012. You can see the ICON A5 in the gameplay video above this post.
Closed beta testing for Microsoft Flight has yet to start but people who still want to try out the game before it"s released can sign up to beta test it at Microsoft"s web site. In addition, the game will be playable to attendees at CES 2012 next week at Microsoft"s booth.