Microsoft Flight Simulator players are using the game's impressive technology to track Hurricane Ida, which is affecting Louisiana at Category 3 strength at the time of writing. Given Microsoft Flight Simulator uses real data for its map, players can track live weather updates and explore their impact on airways in-game.
This isn't the first hurricane that Microsoft Flight Simulator players have tracked. Last year, players used the game to fly into Hurricane Laura - and although there's no way for the game to fully capture exactly how these storms look and behave, it does deliver a unique experience that seemingly no other games can offer. Realistically, there's no way a real plane could ever fly into a hurricane, but Microsoft Flight Simulator gives players a rare opportunity to see what it could be like without any of its real dangers.
Players like TmarTn and Danny Peña are uploading images and videos from Hurricane Ida, showcasing the incredibly realistic graphics of Microsoft Flight Simulator. TmarTn's video shows a lot of dark, ominous clouds looming over what appears to be the Louisiana area; correctly capturing its projected path of movement through the neighboring Baton Rouge. Peña even captured an image of lightning high above the clouds. Twitter user Zach Wenzel also added to the slew of Microsoft Flight Simulator Hurricane Ida media by posting a video of their plane turning sideways after trying to lift off the ground, showing how difficult it is to take off from one of the runways in the path of the hurricane.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a great tool for people to digitally traverse the world, especially amid a pandemic that temporarily prevented domestic and international air travel. There are some limitations, given players are restricted to a plane - but the game's realism and detail seemingly allows for such exploration. Players have even modded real life events into Microsoft Flight Simulator, such as the container ship that got stuck in the Suez Canal earlier this year.
Yes, the technology in Microsoft Flight Simulator allows for the unique opportunity to essentially fly through the eye of a storm, if one desires. Its graphics and mechanics allow for a uniquely close observation of natural events some might not otherwise see. That being said, no one should be inspired to attempt these actions in real life, and only look at such events via the safe circumstances of a video game.
Sources: TmarTn, Danny Peña, Zach Wenzel