Apple Vision Pro is Getting the 'World's Most Advanced Flight Simulator'

[MacRumors]

X-Plane, which is advertised as being the "world's most advanced flight simulator," is coming to Apple's Vision Pro in the next month or so.

The upcoming visionOS 26.4 update adds support for NVIDIA's CloudXR 6.0 platform, and this will enable Vision Pro users to wirelessly stream immersive PC games from NVIDIA RTX-powered servers via Wi-Fi, including the flight simulator X-Plane 12. According to Justin Ryan, the simulator will stream at up to 4K at 120 FPS.

Vision Pro users will be able to connect their own flight simulation hardware for an immersive flying experience. If you have a physical yoke or throttle, Apple's augmented reality framework ARKit uses image detection to recognize them and place them inside your virtual cockpit, as shown in Ryan's demo below (via 9to5Mac).

https://twitter.com/x/status/2031629340526686549

X-Plane 12 is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux for $59.99, or as a DVD for $99.99. A companion app for visionOS will be available in the Vision Pro's App Store "later this spring," according to the announcement. visionOS 26.4 is currently in beta testing, and the update is expected to be released in late March or early April.

Article Link: Apple Vision Pro is Getting the 'World's Most Advanced Flight Simulator'

 

[zilchfox]

That is super cool, honestly...

 

[Jayht]

The AR use in game is huge. Super useful for both flight sim and sim racing.

 

[turbineseaplane]

As a veteran of all flight sims, and a pilot .. Xplane is really out of date on "how the real world looks".

The ortho scenery and "plausible" approach to scenery flat out sucks in 2026.

Sorry, it just does.

 

[Filldos]

are we closer to shooting instrument approaches with this?

 

[jz0309]

That looks awesome.
Though I'm sure there'll be plenty negative posts coming...

 

[BeatsByTim]

It’d be nice if you could run flight sims natively in the headset without the lag of network streaming. The hardware is there, I imagine.

 

[CalMin]

As a veteran of all flight sims, and a pilot .. Xplane is really out of date on "how the real world looks".

The ortho scenery and "plausible" approach to scenery flat out sucks in 2026.

Sorry, it just does.

Yeah - despite it's game vs. sim tension, the one thing MS FS 2024 really does well is the sense of place. The quality of the visuals really help with immersion in VR.

 

[BeatsByTim]

As a veteran of all flight sims, and a pilot .. Xplane is really out of date on "how the real world looks".

The ortho scenery and "plausible" approach to scenery flat out sucks in 2026.

Sorry, it just does.

It’s been awhile since I’ve looked at it. Xplane historically is rough

 

[bible_student]

XP12 is awesome. I’ve gotten my M4 Base MBA and it’s really stable. Had it on a base level M1 Mini prior to MacOS becoming bulkier a using more RAM. Vision Pro would be awesome.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Yeah - despite it's game vs. sim tension, the one thing MS FS 2024 really does well is the sense of place. The quality of the visuals really help with immersion in VR.

Agreed, and it actually does matter for accurately simulating flight situations, even instrument ones, to get the right "picture" at various phases of flight.

Plus, now that the tech is there for it, it's just AWESOME to see the actual world depicted how it actually looks.

 

[adamjackson]

We need more applications like this but it's a great step in the right direction to create a groundswell of demand for whenever Apple releases a more affordable headset. A $1599 Apple Vision with apps like this will sell really well.

 

[macduke]

First real use-case? LMAO.

What’s the lag like on streaming?

Also Microslop Flight Simulator is the most advanced. For now…until they fill it full of slop.

 

[BeatsByTim]

We need more applications like this but it's a great step in the right direction to create a groundswell of demand for whenever Apple releases a more affordable headset. A $1599 Apple Vision with apps like this will sell really well.

Of course if you’re really into flight sims a pc and a big screen headset would likely work best

 

[turbineseaplane]

First real use-case? LMAO.

You don't count the few immersive Apple demo things and some select Lakers games and "real use cases"?
/s

🤣

 

[edrozenberg]

After reading a bunch of Reddit stuff - XPlane 12 not super nice to look at (labor-intensive scenery plugins are an option), but reportedly much closer to real life feel as far as the sim, and based on same engine as FAA-approved sims. Flight Simulator 2024 - nicer to look at, doesn't nail the sim aspect of flying as well. Use both for maximum fun. Also from the info I read this VisionPro stuff will mean needing to run a PC w/ NVidia GPU, running XPlane 12 on a Mac is not an option for VisionPro support.

 

[turbineseaplane]

After reading a bunch of Reddit stuff - XPlane 12 not super nice to look at (labor-intensive scenery plugins are an option), but reportedly much closer to real life feel as far as the sim, and based on same engine as FAA-approved sims. Flight Simulator 2024 - nicer to look at, doesn't nail the sim aspect of flying as well. Use both for maximum fun. Also from the info I read this VisionPro stuff will mean needing to run a PC w/ NVidia GPU, running XPlane 12 on a Mac is not an option for VisionPro support.

They are both just fine on the "feel of flying".

I have news for everyone.
NONE of them are even remotely what it's like to fly a plane in terms of the feel of it.

 

[hieranonymous]

The headline made me think Microsoft Flight Sim was coming to Vision Pro. 😂 (It’s already available for PS5, so pigs are actively flying).

This sim, I’ve never even heard of … but more games for Vision Pro is a good thing in general.

 

[Paradoxally]

Put this in MSFS 2024 and then I'll be interested.

 

[StuBeck]

They are both just fine on the "feel of flying".

I have news for everyone.
NONE of them are even remotely what it's like to fly a plane in terms of the feel of it.

No real simulator is, on the car side they haven't been able to recreate butt feel or the feel through pedals for example.

I was thinking this was coming directly to the AVP which would be neat, but being a supported monitor is a bit different than the title suggested.

 

[BeatsByTim]

They are both just fine on the "feel of flying".

I have news for everyone.
NONE of them are even remotely what it's like to fly a plane in terms of the feel of it.

Yeah but the FAA won’t give me a license without jumping through a bunch of hoops because I’m on an antidepressant

 

[tennisproha]

The VR integration with AR is insanely cool! The simulator graphics leave a lot to be desired.

 

[HazeAndHahmahneez]

Always wondered how APPLE VISION compares to SONY PLAYSTATION VR 2 using the exact same movie or game?…if only you could use Apple Vision Pro with PlayStation 5 Pro…or PSVR 2 with what? iPhone? MacBook? lol that’s a confusing one to think abt

As a veteran of all flight sims, and a pilot .. Xplane is really out of date on "how the real world looks".

The ortho scenery and "plausible" approach to scenery flat out sucks in 2026.

Sorry, it just does.

How does it compare to flight simulator 2025 in terms of feel/realistic flight maneuverin? Have you ever played using a console controller or just keyboard/mouse / flight stick etc.?…

Put this in MSFS 2024 and then I'll be interested.

That would never happen, microsoft prob still hella mad at the original iPhone for wrecking their global phone mastermind takeover plans.

As far as flight sims go I’ve no experience until Microsoft 2024 on PlayStation recently. Amazing sense of place as someone stated…just wow amazing…it has to be Xbox’s best exclusive, no?….

 

[bladerunner88]

MetalStorm looks pretty amazing.....Vapes coming off wings when pulling G's

 

[Jayht]

No real simulator is, on the car side they haven't been able to recreate butt feel or the feel through pedals for example.

I was thinking this was coming directly to the AVP which would be neat, but being a supported monitor is a bit different than the title suggested.

Yeah home set ups will never truly get the g-forces. But it’s getting closer with the more accessible four post actuators. And the simucube active pedals are getting us even closer to simulating any cars pedals. Now if only I had 10+k to upgrade my current rig..