X-Plane 11 (2017), the highly-touted and expansive flight simulator for PC, now has a few new badges under its Steam listing, which includes support for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Windows “Mixed Reality” VR headsets.

Developers at the South Carolina-based Laminar Research previously added beta VR support late last year, although the studio now says that all of the default fleet (minus the SR-71) is VR-ready.

Image courtesy Laminar Research

Laminar says however third-party aircraft “are probably far less usable in VR unless you use the 3D mouse to interact with the cockpit. Feel free to try other aircraft but be aware they may have limited functionality & use.”

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Supporting motion controllers, keyboards, joysticks and other USB devices, the action is mostly all about accurately recreating the feeling of flying a number of commercial and military aircraft, although you can technically move around the aircraft or the world by teleporting. Some parts of the aircraft have a ‘hotspot’ which will light up and snap you to that location such as seats, Laminar says in a blog post.

Image courtesy Laminar Research

X-Plane 11 on Steam for $60. The update also includes:

  • New aircraft Aerolite 103
  • 1315 new airports with 3D buildings
  • Customizable jetways for airport authors
  • Landmark scenery for Sydney, Australia
  • Enhanced night lighting at large distances
  • Higher performance with AMD graphics cards

Take a look at Laminar’s overview of some of the game’s VR-specific features below:

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Well before the first modern XR products hit the market, Scott recognized the potential of the technology and set out to understand and document its growth. He has been professionally reporting on the space for nearly a decade as Editor at Road to VR, authoring more than 3,500 articles on the topic. Scott brings that seasoned insight to his reporting from major industry events across the globe.
  • gothicvillas

    I wouldnt pa 60 dollars for it

    • Raphael

      I didn’t pa 60 for it. I got it on sale at shitmas steam sale.

      • gothicvillas

        I have Aerofly FS2… is it any better?

        • Raphael

          Xplane has more simulation detail but the graphics are dire unless you change the scenery. Aerofly FS2 much better graphics, lighter on the simulation.

          • ummm…

            isnt aerofly terrain and sky just a skin? if you like flight sims dont get aerofly….get xplane/fsx/prepar3d

          • antonio mora

            From above it looks beatiful, if you descend too much then yes, looks really bad.

          • Raphael

            When you’re low it looks like FSX without any mods. In other words vintage graphics. On the plus side xplane has 3rd party scenery that lifts it out of the stoneage. Orbx have also released their first sceneries for xplane 11. Graphically xplane 11 is an openGL dinosaur.

        • antonio mora

          Xplane is very demanding graphics wise.

      • Get Schwifty!

        “shitmas”…. that term explains a lot about you Raph…

        • Raphael

          I agree Mr Schwifty.

      • brubble

        but I love sh*tmas. :(

  • B

    The level of detail and interactivity here is pretty incredible. May be tricky to actually read some of the instruments with current headset resolutions though…

    • Han Solo

      It looks great in the Vive Pro. Enough detail to make out much more than a regular Vive or Rift. This is where the extra resolution pays off. If you still can’t see something, leaning in fixes it much quicker. Should be the same in the Samsung Odyssey.

    • crim3

      I’ve been simming in VR for 2 years and yes, the lack of resolution is a pain. But I can’t go back to a monitor. In 10 years we will laugh at the resolution of the firsts headsets. Today it is what it is.

    • neil rosson

      Bigger more complex planes still too intensive in vr?

  • Harris

    Apple, get your shit together with Mac Pro, VR support, and eGPU. All this stuff is passing your platform by.

  • ummm…

    is there a date on this article? is 11.2vr2 a new version from the6 beta releases? i know it says so but the notes dont have a date either. ……i suppose i can just start up xplane………

  • oompah

    60$ == 60 meals
    or Six 3<=| in an african country with 12 yr old

    • crim3

      Go west…

    • dogbite

      It’s not like there is no economic value in the world from the millions spent in VR. If all countries were as poor as many African nations there would be no World Hunger, Red Cross or whatever. There would be no one with anything to give. I see no need to try and “guilt trip” people in a VR thread. Late night tv does this at every turn.

    • Get Schwifty!

      It’s your responsibility to create an economy where you too can enjoy first world prosperity.

      Africa will have half the world’s population in about 80 years since the attitude of having 10 kids as a retirement plan is common particularly in Nigeria and West Africa. Maybe less sex and more hard work is in order?

    • brubble

      haha …poor little Moomboofoo, too hungry to cry.

  • Roma

    i have installed this brilliant fligt stimulator X-plan From thhe link https://download-mac-apps.com/2017/11/x-plane-11-full-crack-for-macos-x-incl-11-10-beta/ it is free here
    just download and enjoy

  • Roma