Microsoft has confirmed that its hyper-realistic Flight Simulator is launching a collaboration with Stranger Things.
READ MORE: ‘Stranger Things’ season five, volume one review: the big, bold beginning of the end
Microsoft Flight Simulator 24 launched last month for PC and Xbox Series X/S while Playstation 5 users will be able to play from December 8. “Explore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career, reads an official description.
The game was developed with help from actual pilots to create what Microsoft calls “the most authentic flight simulator” around. “Ultimately, this product is about reality,” Microsoft Flight Simulator boss Jorg Neumann explained. “There is a pursuit of realism, authenticity and accuracy. I specifically called it authentic aviation activities instead of missions because it’s important that it’s authentic.”
“You actually learn the tools to do it right,” Neumann continued. “A lot of games don’t really onboard you to something. They highly simplify what it is and then you don’t even really scratch the surface of what’s real. Here, we’re trying to get to real.”
However Microsoft has confirmed that a crossover with Stranger Things is on the way. More details will be revealed next week, but a short teaser trailer has been shared alongside the caption “turn the skies upside down”.
Turn the skies upside down
Stranger Things x Microsoft Flight Simulator 24 is coming December 9! pic.twitter.com/yXyKTr6z1B
— Xbox (@Xbox) December 4, 2025
However the reveal has divided the fanbase. “Looks great! Glad to see games being games, and not taking themselves so seriously. Even in a simulator,” one fan wrote. “I’m not against it, I just don’t understand it,” said another. “Ah sweet. We are turning into Fortnite,” added a third.
Stranger Things’ fifth and final season premiered last month. In a four-star review, NME wrote: “Perhaps inevitably, volume one feels a lot like an appetiser for the rest of the season. But even in piecemeal form, Stranger Things has a flair for epic and emotionally resonant storytelling. After all those years, this smart, big-hearted sci-fi show still has the power to turn your head upside down.” However some retro gaming fans were outraged that Stranger Things committed a “cardinal” Nintendo sin in the latest episodes.
Three more episodes will be released December 26 ahead of the finale on December 31.
In other news, Fallout star Walton Goggins has said he has “no interest” in ever playing the beloved video game series.
The post ‘Stranger Things’ is heading to ‘Microsoft Flight Simulator’ appeared first on NME.
