Alright, here we go. Bear with me because this might get a bit wild.
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Okay, so picture this: I’m staring at my screen, coffee in hand, and I’m still not entirely sure I’m awake. Microsoft Flight Simulator, of all things, is getting a Jurassic World add-on? Yeah, you heard it right, dinos in a flight sim. Like, why didn’t I dream this up last night? But nope, it’s real. Orbx Studios is teaming up with Universal for this, and it’s all official. Crazy, right?
Now, they say you can “step into” Jurassic World, though, to be honest, that’s a funny way to put it. You’re mostly flying, not so much stepping. It’s all about cruising over the imaginary Muertes Archipelago — somewhere off Costa Rica? — just before the chaos of the 2015 movie happens. So, no need to run from raptors or anything. Phew.
They’re jazzing up the place with a custom ferry port and this fancy VIP terminal. Probably for people who pretend they can afford such luxuries. Orbx spills that it’ll drop on PC between August and September, then hit Xbox “soon after.” Whatever “soon” means in game dev talk.
Here’s the kicker, though. If you’re one of those who stuck with old-school MSFS 2020 because the newer one was a bit like a turbulent flight on launch, fret not. Orbx is cooking up compatibility even for X-Plane 12 users. Nice touch, wouldn’t you say?
But hold on, I know my wallet just cringed a bit. Yep, it’s a paid add-on, and no one’s spilling the beans on the price yet. You do need a copy of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 if you fancy flying with dinosaurs, and you’ll snag it from Orbx or Microsoft’s own store once it’s out.
Fast forward to Xbox folks—they’ll find it in the game’s marketplace, which, let’s be real, narrows your purchase options. No clue if that makes it cheaper or not until they hit us with the price tags. But hey, at least you just need the “Standard Edition” of MSFS 2024 to get in on the fun. No need for anything fancy.
Of course, staying updated is a whole other adventure. Discords, forums…you name it. If it’s price announcements and such you’re after, you better hang out in the right corners of the internet. Or just play the waiting game till more news drops.
Remember how bizarre it was when the Halo Pelican made it into the flight sim world? I had the same “am I dreaming?” feeling back then. Microsoft owns both Halo and MSFS, so that was logical, I guess—but pretending to soar above Isla Nublar is a whole different vibe. Fun, in an “I’m an actual person; I want to see dinosaurs” kind of way.
I’ll confess, I’m not the biggest Jurassic fanatic. But whether I dive into this really depends on how much it’s gonna set me back. If it’s priced right, I might trade my usual flight paths for dino skies. Because, let’s be honest, “Life finds a way,” or does it really? Guess it depends on your budget.
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And there you have it, my chaotic ramble on a flight sim going prehistoric. ✈️🦖
