MSFS 2024 launches on PlayStation 5 today, here’s exactly when you can start flying

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is officially launching on PlayStation 5 today! This marks the start of the general release window, which opens the simulator to all PS5 owners across Standard, Deluxe, Premium Deluxe and Aviator editions. The rollout is happening region by region at early morning, matching the schedule published earlier by the development team.

This follows the early access period that began on December 3 for players who pre-ordered the higher-tier editions. That phase provided a first look at the experience on Sony’s console, while today’s release brings the full PS5 community into the fold.

The map shared by the team outlines the exact release times for each major region. These are based on local time zones and indicate the moment users can begin playing on their consoles. The schedule is as follows:

msfs 2024 ps5 global launch times
  • Seattle
    Early Access: December 3, 5 AM PST
    General Release: December 8, 5 AM PST
  • New York
    Early Access: December 3, 8 AM EST
    General Release: December 8, 8 AM EST
  • Mexico City
    Early Access: December 3, 8 AM CST
    General Release: December 8, 8 AM CST
  • São Paulo
    Early Access: December 3, 8 AM BRT
    General Release: December 8, 8 AM BRT
  • London
    Early Access: December 3, 8 AM GMT
    General Release: December 8, 8 AM GMT
  • Paris / Berlin
    Early Access: December 3, 8 AM CET
    General Release: December 8, 8 AM CET
  • Cape Town
    Early Access: December 3, 8 AM SAST
    General Release: December 8, 8 AM SAST
  • Seoul
    Early Access: December 3, 8 AM KST
    General Release: December 8, 8 AM KST
  • Tokyo
    Early Access: December 3, 8 AM JST
    General Release: December 8, 8 AM JST
  • Sydney
    Early Access: December 3, 8 AM AEDT
    General Release: December 8, 8 AM AEDT
  • Auckland
    Early Access: December 3, 8 AM NZDT
    General Release: December 8, 8 AM NZDT

The PS5 release brings the same core experience seen on PC and Xbox Series X|S, though the developers have noted that the PS5 ecosystem operates independently at launch. Marketplace items bought on other platforms do not carry over, and cross-play is not available. Support for peripherals is expanding, and the team says additional hardware compatibility and PlayStation VR2 support are planned for future updates.

A huge milestone for the franchise

Today’s release marks the first time Microsoft Flight Simulator is available on a Sony platform. It represents a new stage for the series, enlarging its audience and broadening the console landscape for flight simulation.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 for PS5 is now rolling out globally. Simmers in each region can begin downloading and flying as soon as their local time reaches the scheduled activation point.