X-Plane 12, widely described as one of the most advanced flight simulators available today, is preparing to expand to Apple Vision Pro through a new companion app that will stream the simulator into mixed reality. The experience will be available with the upcoming visionOS 26.4 update, which adds support for Nvidia’s CloudXR 6.0 platform and enables immersive PC software to stream directly to Apple’s headset over Wi-Fi.
The setup allows users to run X-Plane 12 on a Mac, Windows PC, or Linux machine while the Apple Vision Pro displays the cockpit and environment in mixed reality. CloudXR handles the streaming process and can deliver visuals at up to 4K resolution with frame rates up to 120 frames per second, keeping the simulation smooth as users look around the cockpit or scan the horizon.
Spatial Insider creator Justin Ryan shared the first early look at how the simulator works on Apple Vision Pro and demonstrated how the headset integrates physical controls into the virtual cockpit.
ARKit Recognizes Real Flight Controls
Apple’s ARKit framework detects real flight hardware, such as a yoke or throttle, and places those devices inside the virtual cockpit view. This approach lets pilots see their real controls while flying inside the simulated environment, which improves immersion and keeps the experience grounded in real physical interaction.
X-Plane 12 currently sells for $59.99 on Mac, Windows, and Linux, while a DVD edition costs $99.99. The visionOS companion app will arrive later this spring, and Apple expects to release visionOS 26.4 publicly in late March or early April.
