Microsoft Flight Simulatorhas discovered newfound success that the franchise hasn’t experienced since its glory days in the 80s and 90s. Asobo Studios' simulation game allows PC and Xbox console gamers to explore the world in a way never before accomplished. As such, it’s understandable that third-party companies seeMicrosoft Flight Simulator’s success as a marketing opportunity. That explains the forthcomingTop Gun: Maverickexpansion, and also why it has now been confirmed to have been delayed.
TheTop Gun: Maverickexpansion forMicrosoft Flight Simulatorwas originally announced June as part ofXbox’s E3 2021 Games Showcase. As the name implies, theTop Gun: Maverickexpansion is a promotional tie-in to the movie of the same name, which stars Tom Cruise and Jennifer Connelly. Unfortunately, such promotional relationships ultimately become dependent on the product being promoted, and has become normal in the pandemic theTop Gun: Maverickfilm is now being delayed.
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Once slated for release on November 19,Top Gun: Maverickis being delayed out of the holiday season due to the ongoing COVID-19 surge in the United States. Distributor Paramount is hoping that the film’s new May 2022 release will be better for audiences (and for profits). Given that theTop Gun: MaverickexpansionforMicrosoft Flight Simulatoris intended to promote the film, a launch in 2021 no longer makes sense. As such, the DLC has also been delayed.
While Asobo didn’t provide a new release date for theTop Gun: Maverickexpansion forMicrosoft Flight Simulator, it may as well have. The DLC will arrive alongside the release of the movie. Asobo also confirmed that the DLC is planned to launch on both PC (Windows 10 and Steam) andXbox Series X/Sat the same time.
One other detail that was reconfirmed is that theTop Gun: Maverickexpansion will be included with Xbox Game Pass.DLC for Xbox Game Pass games, including first-party releases, isn’t typically included and has to be bought separately. It seems Microsoft worked out a deal with Paramount to ensure that theTop Gun: Maverickexpansion will reach as many players as possible.
Little is known regarding theTop Gun: Maverickexpansion, in general. The announcement showed some brief gameplay that revealed several flyable jets, assumedly pulled from theTop Gun: Maverickmovie. That could be the extent of the crossover, of course, soMicrosoft Flight Simulatorplayersshould probably keep their expectations in check. Expect more information in the time between now and May 2022.
Microsoft Flight Simulatoris available now on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
