Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) [VR Support]

Project: ‘Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)’ VR Support - a major cross-team initiative to bring full virtual reality capability to one of Microsoft’s most technically ambitious simulation titles. VR support required deep collaboration between the ‘Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)’ development team, the Windows Mixed Reality platform group, and OEM partners like HP to ensure high-fidelity rendering, low-latency head tracking, and broad device compatibility across the entire Windows Mixed Reality headset ecosystem. The effort spanned performance optimization, input and controller mapping, device-level tuning, and extensive user experience refinement to deliver an immersive, cockpit-accurate VR experience for both consumer and enterprise pilots.

Final Role / Title: Program Manager II (full time) - partnered closely with the ‘Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)’ engineering team, Windows Mixed Reality platform teams, and external hardware manufacturers to support VR feature bring‑up, platform validation, and device readiness. Coordinated cross-functional alignment across graphics, input, performance, and hardware groups, validated system-level functionality and headset compatibility, and contributed to launch-critical workflows ensuring that VR support met Microsoft’s quality, performance, and user experience standards across a wide range of Windows Mixed Reality devices.

What is Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)?

‘Microsoft Fight Simulator (2020)’ is the 2020 edition of Microsoft’s flagship amateur flight simulator and was developed by the team at Asobo Studio and published by the team at Xbox Game Studios. ‘Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)’ was released in August of 2020 and represented the first time the series has seen a new entry in over 14 years. ‘Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)’ was the first game in the franchise to feature VR functionality.

Key Features of ‘Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)’:

  • Features a wide variety of flyable aircraft, from light planes up to commercial jets

  • Over 37 Thousand Airports, 2 Million Cities, & 1.5 Billion Buildings

  • Full Day & Night Cycle

  • Real-time Weather Including Accurate Wind Speed & Direction, Temperature, Humidity, Rain, & Lighting.

  • Fully Immersive VR Support

Role & Responsibilities

  • Led cross-team testing and validation efforts within Microsoft’s Mixed Reality organization to ensure that VR support for ‘Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)’ launched at a high level of quality, performance, and device compatibility across the entire Windows Mixed Reality headset ecosystem.

  • Partnered closely with external development teams, providing guidance on VR market expectations, device capabilities, and user experience standards. Supported the team in acquiring, configuring, and testing a wide range of Windows Mixed Reality hardware to improve tracking fidelity, rendering performance, and cockpit-interaction usability.

  • Coordinated alignment across graphics, input, platform, and hardware teams, ensuring that VR features, controller mappings, and performance optimizations were validated end-to-end and met the technical requirements of a simulation title with exceptionally high fidelity demands.

Challenges, Learnings, & Career Impact

Supporting VR for ‘Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)’ came at a uniquely challenging moment, as the Mixed Reality team was simultaneously preparing for the launch of the HP Reverb G2. Both efforts required close coordination with Asobo Studio, HP, Valve, and multiple internal Microsoft engineering groups - many of whom were distributed across different regions and time zones. Aligning priorities, sharing builds and sandboxes, and validating changes across this wide network of partners demanded a high level of organization, communication discipline, and flexibility.

The technical bar for VR in ‘Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)’ was exceptionally high. The title’s visual fidelity, simulation complexity, and performance requirements meant that even small changes in rendering, tracking, or input could have outsized impact on the user experience. Ensuring that VR support shipped at a quality level worthy of the ‘Microsoft Flight Simulator’ brand required tight iteration loops, rapid issue triage, and constant cross-team alignment despite the geographic and logistical challenges.

Ultimately, our teams delivered a VR experience that became a defining part of the modern ‘Microsoft Flight Simulator’ ecosystem. Asobo later reported that more than 10% of all players now fly exclusively in VR - a testament to the value of the feature and the collaborative effort behind it. For me, this project reinforced the importance of clear communication across distributed teams, the need for rigorous cross-platform validation, and the impact that thoughtful program management can have on delivering complex, high-visibility features.

Where to get Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)

The PC version of ‘Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)’ that supports VR was released to all physical and digital PC retailers in August 2020 (current availability may vary).

Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) [VR Support] - Links & Media