Orbx released Jurassic World: Archipelago DLC for Jurassic World: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, so we climbed onto the motion simulator, explored the detailed islands of the ultimate pack from above, and walked among the dinosaurs. Please read my first impressions.
Who was not fascinated by dinosaurs as a child? When I was growing up, I couldn’t get enough of them. In particular, they are gentle giants that most people simply call their strengths. Back in the 80s, unfortunately, the films seen on home PCs that can run the most simple games in today’s modern wonders, immersive technology, or most libraries today, didn’t have CGI like CGI. When Jurassic Park first appeared in theaters in 1993, many of us were exhilarating, our jaws rang out and sitting in local theatres, seeing those dinosaurs first.
Flashing in 2025, their iconic landscapes, film sets, and even dinosaurs have advanced to Flying Simulator 2024 via a new DLC pack developed by ORBX. This brings you back to more memorable islands and structures that have become famous for the film franchise.
This pack is not something that can survive steam. For this add-on, you will need to download and set up Orbx Central, or buy it directly from the game’s marketplace. An hour after fighting server issues on release day I painfully watched the bar slowly fill up as the files were downloaded and installed on my PC. I waited and when I finished, I jumped into the cockpit. I knew this adventure would be special when I fell into the sky above that first island with the new Jurassic world brand virtual Kablahtar xcub.
I found myself captivated by what is presented beyond the small window of my little starter plane: the sun near the far horizon. A herd of pterodactyls caught my attention to the left and I sat there in awe.
After finishing my first lap around the island and not finding many dinosaurs to gaze, I decided to try one of the guided interactive sessions, “Did you tell me there are dinosaurs on this island?” The tours offered on the Archipelago DLC are actually active, unlike other tours on Flying Simulator 24, and are actually active and flying to each destination that has been pre-marked by yourself. I wanted a more passive ride that allowed me to sit in the passenger seat and soak it all up while listening to the tour guide’s story.
Some places to show up on the guided Isla Nublar tour
You will receive a brief backstory explaining why the site is worthy of attention when you arrive at your new location and will return to your free flight until you choose to head to the next area of interest. This particular tour is divided into eight different regions from the film, each with a chance to instantly explore the iconic sites and structures. But this is where things get a little rough.
One interesting thing about Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is that, just like real life, new aircraft fly a little differently. You don’t rely on muscle memory until you take a minute to learn pilot quirks. In the Archipelago DLC, you fly a Cubcrafters Xcub Personal Aircraft, but it’s not the easiest plane in a hangar. One of the best features of the DLC is its ability to land, roam with the island’s dinosaurs, and explore some of the film’s more iconic locales. However, landing the XCUB on a stable surface is almost impossible for a novice virtual pilot, not to mention trying to land on a small patch of flat earth.
Ultimately, I realized that all new content could be accessed through the usual “free flight” setting in the main game’s menu. Explore DLC content in this way and you will have access to all your own aircraft. Discovering this option will ultimately allow you to choose a more manageable and slower plane. There, they begin to take the sights and sounds of the island without crashing.
Orbx offers four options to explore Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna. Choose the one that suits you before joining VR Sideload. Explore more iconic islands and discuss the findings live.
Overall, ORBX produced another visual shock in the Archipelago DLC, a Jurassic world. Dinosaurs are more abundant and can be easier to find in free flight mode, but discovering them throughout the island chain through exploration makes you feel amazing and surprising when you finally find a pack that you can land and walk.
If you’re a fan of the Jurassic World franchise, this DLC pack is a must, and I highly recommend it, especially if you have a high-end PC VR setup. Exploring these islands offers visual experiences that evoke a childlike sense of wonder, and you should not miss it.
Jurassic World: The archipelago of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is now available on PC VR.
If you want to see more islands and dinosaurs that live in them on the air or on foot, join this week’s VR Side Road. Ask questions and explore the DLC further as you take on on-air requests.
