The much-awaited “Microsoft Flight Simulator” expansion supposedly launching this year is no longer coming until 2022. However, the reason behind the delay is unlike the situation of other video games that saw release date changes in previous months.
By this time, gaming fans are likely used to hearing news about games or updates being delayed. In most cases, the developers were forced to change the time frame because they needed more time to finish the project because of the pandemic. However, the situation with the “Microsoft Flight Simulator” expansion is unique.
Developer Asobo announced recently that the “Microsoft Flight Simulator” expansion based on the Tom Cruise-starring film “Top Gun: Maverick” has been delayed to 2022. In a blog post, the studio confirmed that the change in the expansion’s launch date followed the postponed premiere of the action movie. “As we have previously announced, the Top Gun: Maverick expansion for Microsoft Flight Simulator for Windows 10 PC, Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Game Pass will be released alongside the movie,” the developer wrote.
The movie was originally planned to premiere in 2019, but Paramount Pictures delayed it so production could have more time to work on the film’s flight sequences. It is a sequel to the same title movie released in 1986, where Cruise plays the role of pilot Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. Last spring, Paramount scheduled the movie to premiere on Nov. 19, but it was ultimately delayed to its latest schedule due to the recent COVID-19 delta surge in the United States, according to Variety.
The “Microsoft Flight Simulator” expansion was one of the surprises Xbox had at its E3 2021 showcase. Fans thought that when the game appeared on their screens, it was just another teaser for the sim’s launch on Xbox Series X/S. However, the latter part of the video was dedicated to announcing the movie-themed expansion.
Asobo did not provide a specific release date for the “Microsoft Flight Simulator” expansion. However, it should be noted that “Top Gun: Maverick” is currently slated to premiere during the Memorial Day Weekend on May 27, 2022.