Netflix’s Stranger Things has crossed into Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 as a themed expansion, not a new episode or an installment of the show’s storyline. Released December 9, 2025, the free-for-owners update recreates Hawkins, adds a Bell UH-1H Huey helicopter and includes five rescue missions.
What the Stranger Things expansion includes
Microsoft describes the add-on as a recreation of Hawkins, the fictional Indiana town at the center of the series. Players fly a Bell UH-1H Huey and take on five rescue missions. The Xbox Wire announcement frames the experience around Hawkins Heli-Tours and points to locations such as Palace Arcade, Family Video and Lovers Lake. Those details are promotional framing for the game content, not confirmation that the missions adapt specific television episodes.
The crossover references the Upside Down, but Microsoft’s announcements do not establish that its missions retell events from the show. Netflix describes season five as the series’ fifth and final season, set in fall 1987, with Hawkins scarred by the Rifts and under military quarantine as the characters seek Vecna. The game expansion is set in Hawkins; that shared setting alone does not make it a continuation of the season’s plot.
How to access it
Microsoft says the expansion is free to owners of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. It is an add-on to the simulator, not a standalone game, so players need to own the base title.
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#1 Best Overall
![Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Standard Edition (Pre-Purchase/Launch Day) – Play on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51wzIlxO80L._SL160_.jpg)
- CONTENT IS PLAYABLE AT 6AM PST ON NOV-19-2024.**
- MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2024: Explore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- STANDARD EDITION: Includes over 65 aircraft and 150 handcrafted airports
- FLY WITH PURPOSE: Pursue your aviation career throughout the world with dynamically generated missions ranging from Medevac and Search & Rescue to Aerial Firefighting and Passenger Transport
- CHALLENGE LEAGUE: Compete against other pilots in the iconic Reno and Red Bull Air Races
- Update Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
- Open the simulator’s in-game Marketplace.
- Select the Stranger Things expansion there.
The announcement lists Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, PlayStation 5, Steam and Cloud as ways to experience the content. It does not detail whether platform, subscription or cloud-service requirements are the same across those options, so check the requirements for the platform you use.
What flying the missions involves
The central activity is piloting the Huey through Hawkins and completing five rescue missions. A December 11, 2025 Microsoft Flight Simulator weekly briefing also describes helicopter training, a crew led by Murray Bauman and the option to explore as a Hawkins Heli-Tours pilot. Microsoft’s December 9 announcements establish the aircraft, setting and mission count; the briefing supplies those additional activity details.
Rank #2
![Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Premium Deluxe Edition (Pre-Purchase/Launch Day) – Play on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51p9VlYT7TL._SL160_.jpg)
- CONTENT IS PLAYABLE AT 6AM PST ON NOV-19-2024.**
- MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2024: Explore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- PREMIUM DELUXE EDITION: Includes everything from the Standard Edition plus 25 additional aircraft and 10 additional handcrafted international airports
- FLY WITH PURPOSE: Pursue your aviation career throughout the world with dynamically generated missions ranging from Medevac and Search & Rescue to Aerial Firefighting and Passenger Transport
- CHALLENGE LEAGUE: Compete against other pilots in the iconic Reno and Red Bull Air Races
A flight joystick may be an optional way to control a flight simulator, but it is not listed as a requirement for this expansion. The announcements do not verify compatibility for any particular accessory.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How it connects to the television series
Stranger Things was created by the Duffer Brothers, according to Netflix Media Center. Microsoft’s game materials use the show’s setting and imagery, but describe a flight-simulation expansion rather than a new television chapter. The available announcements do not tie its rescue missions to a specific season-five event.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Take to the skies and experience the joy of flight in the next generation of Microsoft Flight Simulator. Microsoft Flight Simulator includes 20 highly detailed planes with unique flight models and 30 handcrafted airports.
- Explore the world. Travel the world in amazing detail with over 2 million cities, 1.5 billion buildings, real mountains, roads, trees, rivers, animals, traffic, and more.
- Test your skill. Fly day or night with live real-time weather including accurate wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, rain, and lightning.
- This version only plays on Xbox Series X and is optimized for Xbox Series X. Games optimized for Xbox Series X will showcase unparalleled load-times, heightened visuals, and steadier framerates.
- Get Microsoft Flight Simulator, plus access to over 100 other high-quality games for one low monthly price with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Rank #4
- MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2024: Explore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
- PREMIUM DELUXE STEELBOOK EDITION: Includes the Jumbo SteelBook case, custom pilot's lanyard with Standard Edition digital game code, and a message from the developer.
- FLY WITH PURPOSE: Pursue your aviation career throughout the world with dynamically generated missions ranging from Medevac and Search & Rescue to Aerial Firefighting and Passenger Transport.
- CHALLENGE LEAGUE: Compete against other pilots in the iconic Reno and Red Bull Air Races.
- ADVANCED SIMULATION: Enhanced physics and aircraft systems and a groundbreaking flight planner create an unparalleled simulation experience.
Rank #3
- Universal, all-in-one design including throttle quadrant, trim wheel & yoke
- True to life 180° yoke handle rotation with non-contact hall effect sensor
- Modular throttle quadrant with customizable lever handles and buttons
- Integrated rudder and brake controls at your fingertips
- Full color flight management display to learn and configure the system
Official announcements
- Xbox Wire: “Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ Is Coming to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024”, December 9, 2025. The announcement is credited to Jorg Neumann, Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator.
- Microsoft Flight Simulator Team: “Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: Stranger Things Expansion”, December 9, 2025.
- Netflix Media Center: “Stranger Things”, for the series description and creator attribution.
- Microsoft Flight Simulator: December 11, 2025 weekly briefing, for supplemental activity details.
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