If you’re anything like me (someone who grew up dragged by their dad to every airshow just to get a glimpse of aviation history) then the name MicroProse and the arcade flight sim B-17 Flying Fortress are pure nostalgia gold.
MicroProse — the company that defined 16-bit flight sims for a generation — has pulled the silk off an absolutely massive expansion of the B-17 legacy, touching on everything from VR to tabletops. It’s a long way from 8-bit stealth fighter sims with keyboard overlays, but an entirely believable evolution.
This is a new game, with modern graphics, but relying heavily on the ethos of the original 16-bit games.
The return of the Mighty Eighth
For those of us who cut our teeth on the original 1992 B-17 Flying Fortress game (which had a brilliant version on the Amiga) or perhaps the fantastic 2000 sequel, B-17 Flying Fortress: The Mighty Eighth, this is big news. That game was less about the flying and more about managing the terror and fate of a crew of ten men in the air, and these new projects capture that intense spirit.
The new deep-dive simulation, B-17 Flying Fortress: The Bloody 100th, has a devlog and promises to be the spiritual successor we’ve waited for. It emphasizes:
- A living crew: Your crew will grow, struggle, and change with every high-stakes mission.
- Interactive damage: The Fortress itself is treated like the 11th crewmember, thanks to a seriously detailed damage model.
- Critical events: Capturing the chaos and sheer drama of a WWII bomber run.
From B-17 Flying Fortress VR cockpit to the tabletop
But MicroProse isn’t stopping there. They’re serious about this gaming legacy, as the B-17 experience is going multi-platform:
- VR Immersion: The Mighty Eighth VR is taking a huge step forward with Devlog #4 and a new teaser video that puts you right on a moonlit airstrip, ready for a mission briefing through your VR headset. Being inside the B-17 in virtual reality—getting to manage one of those eight critical crew roles—is going to be an incredible experience that really takes you back to those early sim days.
- Flight Sim Fidelity: For the serious stick-and-rudder pilots, the B-17G for Microsoft Flight Simulator project is continuing, bringing the classic Fortress into the modern MSFS platform with exceptional fidelity. They’ve dropped a new video update (above) showing the aircraft’s detailed 3D model and the real sense of weight it has in the sky.
- Tabletop Strategy: In a genuinely unexpected twist, they are also announcing B-17 Flying Fortress: The Bloody 100th Board Game Edition. This is a cooperative board game that recreates the intensity of a bomber mission over Europe, requiring players to take on crew roles like pilot, navigator, and gunners. If you want to test your communication and nerves under flak, you can sign up on Kickstarter to be notified when the campaign goes live.
From detailed high-fidelity simulations to immersive VR and tabletop strategy, it’s clear MicroProse is expanding the B-17 legacy across every platform. It’s never been a better time to be a fan of classic aviation sims!
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
