In the two years since its release, Flight Simulator has been updated numerous times, each one bringing a slew of new content to the game, all for free. Flight Sim’s free updates are usually divided into two categories: World Updates and Sim Updates. The former type of update sees even more realistic textures added for a certain global location, often with a number of handcrafted airports, while the latter sees general improvements head to the game. Flight Simulator’s newest update, however, doesn’t quite fit into these categories, which is suitably rogue for a Top Gun Maverick DLC.

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Everything Included in the Top Gun Maverick Update

First announced all the way back in June 2021 during Microsoft’s E3 conference, Flight Simulator’s Top Gun Maverick DLC has had a bit of a rocky road to release. While the content itself was seemingly ready to go for quite some time, the Top Gun pack was delayed in order to coincide with the release of the Top Gun Maverick movie, which saw a handful of delays over the last year or so.

Thankfully, though, Top Gun Maverick is finally out in theaters, and to mark its worldwide release, its Flight Simulator DLC has dropped alongside it. While the main feature of this DLC has already been released, with the F/A-18E Super Hornet releasing early as part of the Game of the Year update, there’s still plenty of exciting new content for Top Gun fans to dive into.

Though the Top Gun Maverick Flight Simulator DLC comes with some unique franchise-themed cosmetics for the Super Hornet aircraft, it’s the DLC’s set of new challenges that are the most exciting addition. This free DLC comes with three challenges specifically designed for the F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft.

Through these challenges, players will have to channel their inner Maverick or Iceman as they participate in a range of daring stunts, including some S-maneuvers and inverted tricks. Players will also have to test their mettle by flying through some low-altitude terrain, being careful to maneuver their high-speed jets around a variety of obstacles.

Five general challenges are also included in the Top Gun Maverick DLC, allowing players to use a variety of aircraft to complete the objective. Four of these challenges are described as “high-speed, low-level” missions in which players will need to fly through canyons, mountains, and cities with precision. The final challenge will be a fun throwback for Flight Simulator X fans, as players are tasked with landing their aircraft on a moving carrier ship’s deck, just as Top Gun’s Navy pilots do.

Flight Simulator’s Top Gun Maverick DLC is also throwing a brand-new aircraft into the mix. Boasting hypersonic, unparalleled speeds, the Aurora Darkstar SR-91 is a stealth jet like no one’s ever seen before, capable of reaching Mach 10 and climbing to 150,000ft above sea level. The Aurora Darkstar SR-91 also comes with its own unique challenge mission, giving players an immediate display of the new aircraft’s immense power.

Microsoft Flight Simulator is out now on PC and Xbox Series X|S.

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