Key Highlights:
- Jurassic World: Archipelago brings Isla Nublar and the Muertes Archipelago to MSFS 2024.
- Features dinosaurs, airstrips, helipads, and scenic Costa Rican enhancements.
- Launching late August or early September for PC and Xbox via OrbxDirect and in-game marketplace.
I’ve flown through a lot of virtual airspace over the years, but nothing quite prepares you for soaring over Isla Nublar while a Tyrannosaurus rex prowls below.
That’s exactly what’s coming to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, thanks to a new collaboration between Orbx Studios and Universal. Dubbed Jurassic World: Archipelago, this immersive expansion turns the simulator into a cinematic experience like no other, without straying from the precision and detail that the platform is known for.
Set just before the events of the 2015 Jurassic World film, this add-on recreates the iconic dinosaur islands with remarkable accuracy. I’ll be navigating between six airstrips and twelve helipads spread across Isla Nublar and the five Muertes islands: Sorna, Matanceros, Muerta, Tacaño, and Pena. What makes this more than just eye candy is how these elements serve actual gameplay functions, scenic flights, structured tours, VIP transport missions, and challenging landings all play a part.
Orbx has even enhanced Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaria Airport and Herradura Bay Marina to anchor the experience in real-world geography. These subtle tweaks help ground the fiction in flight simulation, making transitions between the real and the pre-historic feel natural rather than forced.
It’s easy to assume this would be a theme park gimmick, but Orbx has gone for simulation-first design. Yes, the dinosaurs are there – Apatosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Dimorphodon, Gallimimus, Mosasaurus, Pteranodon, Stegosaurus, T. rex, and Velociraptor – but their inclusion complements the overall experience rather than cheapening it.
Whether I’m photographing wildlife on a tour or executing a tricky landing near a paddock, the ecosystem of these islands feels coherent.
I especially appreciate that the dinosaurs aren’t just static models. Their placement and movement patterns are considered in how they affect the environment and your approach strategies. It’s not quite chaos theory, but it adds a level of dynamism rarely seen in sim expansions.
Orbx confirmed the expansion will land first on PC and Xbox Series X|S sometime between late August and early September.
For sim enthusiasts still flying in Flight Simulator 2020, Orbx plans to release a compatible version, and they’re also eyeing X-Plane 12 in the near future. What’s more, with murmurs of MSFS 2024 heading to PS5, this pack could find new altitude if Microsoft broadens its console strategy.
The add-on blends structured challenges with free-flight exploration, giving both hardcore sim pilots and casual fans of the franchise something worthwhile. As a long-time sim user, I see this as a clear shift in how content creators and IP holders can align to deliver imaginative yet grounded experiences.
For me, Jurassic World: Archipelago is more than just another DLC, it’s a landmark in merging entertainment franchises with high-fidelity simulation. With thoughtful implementation, visually rich landscapes, and gameplay that respects both flight sim mechanics and cinematic lore, this expansion could very well be the most adventurous take-off MSFS has ever seen.
And yes, when I do finally land on Isla Sorna, you better believe I’ll be flying low over the jungle, looking for that Brachiosaurus.