Flight Simulator teases a partnership with online flight network VATSIM

Microsoft Flight Simulator has teased a partnership with the Virtual Air Traffic Simulation Network, or VATSIM, for the release of the upcoming new edition of the simulator on August 18. VATSIM is a long-standing institution in the flight simulation community, a nonprofit organization that provides a network where users either fly as pilots or direct air traffic as controllers to produce a simulation of real-world air traffic. VATSIM has confirmed that their network will be compatible with Flight Simulator at launch.

The teaser is composed of beautiful panorama shots of planes alongside detailed radar screens as crackling radio chatter from those planes and air traffic controllers plays over the music. It's more of the beautiful views you're used to seeing from this game. Speaking of which, you can already preinstall Flight Simulator, and you can get it via Xbox Game Pass.

You can learn more about VATSIM on their website. If you're interested, learning how VATSIM works is a process that you can start well before Flight Simulator releases on August 18th. For more on the new Flight Simulator, you can check out everything we know about it.

Jon Bolding is a games writer and critic with an extensive background in strategy games. When he's not on his PC, he can be found playing every tabletop game under the sun.