The new Microsoft Flight PC game featuring the Icon Aircraft A5 has officially launched. The starter pack is now available to download for free and includes the Big Island of Hawaii as well as the A5 as the default aircraft. Microsoft has also announced pricing for additional downloadable content, including the rest of the Hawaiian Islands and four other aircraft besides the A5.
Microsoft received tremendous response to the beta version of the game, with over 150,000 applicants during the two-month trial period. “The interest in the beta version of Microsoft Flight greatly exceeded our expectations and shows that the public is very excited to get out and fly. Microsoft Flight and the Icon A5 make a powerful combination because they combine ease of use, versatility, and fun in a way that is exciting to consumers,” said Joshua Howard, executive producer of Microsoft Flight. The game requires no past experience or special hardware, making it ideal for beginners, he added.
“Microsoft Flight is a unique way for consumers to experience the Icon A5 before it’s publicly available,” said Icon Aircraft COO Steen Strand. “While the game is a simulation with the inherent limitations of a virtual experience, we were very impressed with Microsoft’s commitment to accurately capturing the A5. From the extraordinary visuals to the sounds to the flight characteristics, the game does a great job of approximating the A5 prototype during its development phase, prior to the most recent refinements, such as spin resistance. The authenticity of the experience aligns perfectly with Icon’s goal to bring the fun and adventure of flying to those who may have considered it out of reach in the past.”
Microsoft produced a “behind the scenes” video that highlights the work that went into ensuring the authenticity of the aircraft in the game, particularly the collaboration with Icon.
In conjunction with the release of the game, Icon is lowering the required deposit for an A5 for 10 days from Wednesday, Feb. 29, to Friday, March 9. During these dates, the deposit will be reduced from $5,000 to $3,000. For more information, click here
For more information: IconAircraft.com and MicrosoftFlight.com.
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