Microsoft has announced World Update XVII for Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS), focusing on the United Kingdom and Ireland. This update incorporates advanced photogrammetry technology and is the largest World Update released for MSFS to date.
World Update XVII for Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) includes:
Expanded Region Coverage
World Update XVII adds high-resolution aerial imagery and Digital Elevation Maps (DEMs) for England, Scotland, Wales, and much of Ireland. This update includes:
- 16 TIN Cities: Bristol, Brighton, Greater London, Heathrow, Leeds-Bradford, Liverpool, Newcastle-Sunderland, Welling, and Wembley in England; Cork, Dublin, and Cliffs of Moher/Liscannor in Ireland; Edinburgh, Glasgow in Scotland; Cardiff in Wales; Gibraltar.
- 79 Points of Interest (POIs): 31 in England, 13 in Ireland, 5 in the Isle of Man, 11 in Northern Ireland, 1 in Orkney/Scotland, 9 in Scotland, and 10 in Wales.
- 5 Handcrafted Airports: Farnborough (EGLF) and London Stansted (EGSS) in England; Cork (EICK) in Ireland; Sumburgh (EGPB) in Scotland; Cardiff (EGFF) in Wales.
New Activities
The update introduces eight new activities:
- Discovery Flights: Explore Dublin, Edinburgh, and the Cliffs of Moher.
- Landing Challenges: Attempt landings at London Stansted Airport (EGSS) and Cork Airport (EICK).
- Bush Trips: Experience long flights across Scotland, southern England, and Wales.
Technological Advancements
World Update XVII integrates recent aerial imagery, advanced Digital Elevation Modelling (including LiDAR coverage), and Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) surface modelling.
The update improves photogrammetry quality with new cameras and algorithms, leading to more accurate and detailed representations of landscapes and cities.
Impact of Collaboration
This update benefits from Microsoft’s collaboration with Bing Maps, Gaya Simulations, and iniBuilds. The partnership has enabled significant improvements in data accuracy and quality.
Additionally, the European Union’s policy on free public data has provided highly detailed elevation maps, enhancing the update’s precision.
Availability
World Update XVII is available as a free update for Microsoft Flight Simulator. To access it, ensure your simulator is updated to version 1.37.19.0 or later.
The update is accessible on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam, and via Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Cloud Gaming.