Simulation · March 30, 2017
X-Plane 11 (2017)
Just Updated X-Plane 11.51 update is now available. The update contains bug fixes and includes more custom airports. See the detailed list of new items here: Buzz Laminar Research releases X-Plane 11.50 final Laminar Research, creator of the X-Plane flight simulator franchise, is proud to announce the final Vulkan/Metal update of X-Plane 11. After many months of converting our graphics engine and beta testing, we are today announcing the final release of version 11.50 for the X-Plane desktop platform. Vulkan (PC) and Metal (Mac) are rendering level APIs that change how X-Plane interacts with the graphics card. They are faster than OpenGL that X-Plane has used in the past. Overall, most users will see improved frame rates and reduced stutters when using Vulkan or Metal. In X-Plane 11.50, there is a check-box in the graphics settings that enables Vulkan or Metal, and a restart of X-Plane is necessary for the change to take effect. If for some reason a user can’t use Vulkan or Metal, OpenGL is still available by simply unchecking the box. Numerous bug fixes, enhancements, and new airports are also included in this release. About the Game The future of flight simulation is now. X-Plane 11 is the detailed, realistic, and modern simulator you’ve been waiting for. New in X-Plane 11 A completely redesigned, intuitive user interface that makes setting up and editing your flight a breeze. Consistently usable 3-D cockpits and stunningly high-resolution exterior models for all included aircraft. A new effects engine for lighting, sounds, and explosions. Realistic avionics: all planes are IFR-ready right out of the gate. Busy, “living” airports with pushback tugs and roaming fuel trucks, able to service both your aircraft and the simulator’s AI planes. New buildings & roads to better simulate European cities …and more!
Position in Simulation
| Metric | This title | Genre position |
|---|---|---|
| Review volume | 18.9k Steam reviews | Top 26% in Simulation |
| Positive rating | 93% positive | Genre average: 79% — this title sits in top 14% |
| Concurrent peak | 381 players | Top 34% in Simulation by live player count |
| Engagement hours | 173 h average | Top 9% for session depth among Simulation |
Community Tag Signals
Tag weights reflect how many Steam users voted each descriptor — larger pills = stronger consensus.
- Simulation · 399
- Flight · 363
- Realistic · 236
- Open World · 185
- Multiplayer · 181
- VR · 131
- Singleplayer · 93
- Physics · 90
- First-Person · 68
- Sandbox · 60
- Atmospheric · 46
- Adventure · 42
- Third Person · 24
- Education · 23
- Exploration · 23
Peer Simulation titles
Comparable titles in the same genre and review-volume band — ranked by Steam positive percentage.
Simulation releases from 2017
14 Simulation titles launched in 2017 — top 6 by review volume.
Localization Coverage
Interface / Subtitles (7)
- English volume_up
- French
- Italian
- German
- Spanish - Spain
- Portuguese - Portugal
- Russian volume_up
Full audio (2)
- English
- Russian
Features & Capabilities
Multiplayer
- Multi-player
- PvP
- Shared/Split Screen PvP
Input & Comfort
- Tracked Controller Support
- VR Supported
- Partial Controller Support
Other
- Single-player
- Includes level editor
- Family Sharing
Reception Metrics
Steam community
93%Very Positive · 18.9k reviews
17.6k positive · 1.3k negative
Curator recommendations
18.4k
Peak concurrent players
381
Press Quotes
“The New X-Plane Flight Sim Is So Ridiculously Detailed, It Even Has Catering Trucks” “I believe Laminar Research are on to a real winner with X-Plane 11” “Xplane11 è veramente incredibile, ed è sicuramente il futuro dei simulatori di volo.” Gamers Paradise (in Italian)
Engagement Profile
All-time avg
173h
extensive (100+ hours)
Median
22h
Typical completion time
2-week avg
1h
Current engagement
Release & Availability
| Release date | Mar 30, 2017 |
|---|---|
| Developer | Laminar Research |
| Base price | $9.89 -67% |
| DLC / Add-ons | 129 released |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Estimated owners | 1M–10M |
| External links | Official site · Support · [email protected] |
Editions & Packages
Buy X-Plane 11











