Public testing for Sim Update 12 continues with a new pre-release beta build (1.31.21.0) available today. You can see the change log for this version on our forums here. Anyone not currently enrolled in the beta who would like to help test Sim Update 12 can find instructions on how to download the test build here.

Additionally, to enable Xbox support for 3rd Party aircraft which use WASM, we have recently released a new addon to the Xbox Store. At present, this addon is not functional, and downloading it will have no effect on Microsoft Flight Simulator. Once WASM on Xbox support is available, this addon will install automatically when Microsoft Flight Simulator is launched on Xbox. We'll have more details to share about WASM on Xbox support as we get closer to the release of Sim Update 12.

Click here to continue reading the Development Update!

Enjoy discounted pricing on Marketplace content from Impulse Simulations

For seven days starting on March 3rd save up to 33% on the following items:

• Emergency Response Pack - Oceania King Air
  
• Landmarks Cairns
  
• Oceania Liveries Pack A320
  
• YBDG Bendigo Airport
  
• YCFS Coffs Harbour Airport
  
• YPAD Adelaide Airport
  
• YSBK Bankstown Airport

To purchase these discounted items, visit the Microsoft Flight Simulator Marketplace, select ‘Featured’, scroll down to ‘Special Offers’, then select ‘See All’ and look for the savings.

Over the last week, we released World Update 12: New Zealand, Local Legend VIII: De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou, and Famous Flyer IV: Antonov An-225 Mriya. We are thrilled with the community's reaction to all three releases, and the team is carefully monitoring your feedback and bug reports.

Public testing for our next major release, Sim Update 12, continues. We released two new test builds to beta participants over the past few days. In case you missed it, you can read the release notes for these builds here (1.31.19.0) and here (1.31.20.20). If you would like to join the pre-release beta test, you can find instructions here.

Lastly, this week's Development Update blog includes a Feedback Snapshot that can be found below. We apologize for its absence in recent weeks.

MSFS Team

Click here to continue reading the Development Update!

Kia ora! We are thrilled to release World Update XII: New Zealand, available now as a free download from the in-sim Marketplace to all players. You can read all about the new content included in this update here. Launching alongside WU12 is the latest in our series of Local Legend planes. This time, we’re bringing you the De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou. This rugged short takeoff and landing (STOL) utility aircraft can be purchased from the Marketplace for USD $14.99.

The Caribou is not the only new plane on the horizon, though. Announced during our most recent Developer Livestream, we are excited to bring the largest plane ever built, the Antonov An-225, to Microsoft Flight Simulator. The An-225 will be available from the Marketplace on Monday, February 27 for PC. The Xbox version will launch alongside the full release of Sim Update 12.

Speaking of Sim Update 12, beta testing for the next major update to Microsoft Flight Simulator started earlier this week. You can read the release notes for the first test build here. If you would like to opt into the beta program and help test this upcoming release, you can find instructions to do so here. Beta testing is available to players on PC (MS Store and Steam) and Xbox Series X|S.

We have also recently updated the manuals for three aircraft, the Airbus A310-300, Grumman G-21 Goose, and Curtis JN-4 Jenny. These new manuals are available here on our website.

Finally, yesterday we experienced a service outage that prevented some players on PC and Xbox from launching Microsoft Flight Simulator. This issue has been resolved, and normal service has been restored. We thank you for your patience and understanding while our support teams fixed the issue.

MSFS Team

Click here to continue reading the Development Update!

Enjoy discounted pricing on Marketplace content from New Zealand to coincide with World Update XII.

For six days starting on February 23rd save up to 53% on the following items:

• Landmarks Auckland City Pack
  
• NZAA Auckland International Airport
  
• NZMC / NZGT / NZTW Mount Cook Region Airports
  
• NZNS Nelson Airport
  
• NZQN Queenstown Airport
  
• NZWN Wellington Airport
  
• P-750 XSTOL

To purchase these discounted items, visit the Microsoft Flight Simulator Marketplace, select ‘Featured’, scroll down to ‘Special Offers’, then select ‘See All’ and look for the savings.

Microsoft Flight Simulator World Update XII: New Zealand beckons all to experience the expansive beauty that the country has to offer, reproduced in stunning photo-realistic quality. The jewel of the southwestern Pacific, born of volcanic fire and hewn by the sea and sky, New Zealand is globally renowned for its breathtaking vistas from Aoraki/Mount Cook, the country’s highest mountain at 12,218 feet above sea level; to the Milford Sound, a spectacular fjord that novelist Rudyard Kipling called the eighth Wonder of the World; Auckland’s needle-like Sky Tower, one of the highest structures on the planet; and the Bay of Islands, a group of 144 islands and numerous small peninsulas and inlets. Experience the stunning vistas that unfold with each glance from the cockpit above New Zealand.

The Microsoft Flight Simulator team brought together the latest geographic data to create World Update XII: New Zealand, including satellite imagery, aerial photography, and digital elevation models. The team even incorporated the Hobbiton Movie Set on New Zealand’s North Island that is surrounded by the region’s unique natural splendor.

Microsoft Flight Simulator World Update XII: New Zealand is available FREE to all owners. Confirm that your simulator is updated to version 1.30.12.0, download World Update XII: New Zealand a take in the natural beauty of New Zealand. The sky is calling!

• Auckland
• Christchurch
• Hamilton
• Nelson
• Queenstown
• Tauranga
• Wellington

• Akaroa Dolphins Cruise
• Akaroa St Patrick's Catholic Church
• Akaroa Waterfront
• Auckland Harbour Bridge
• Auckland War Memorial Mus.
• Balclutha Road Bridge
• Beehive
• Big Lemon and Paeroa Bottle
• Cape Egmont Lighthouse
• Cape Reinga Lighthouse
• Cardrona Ski Resort
• Castle Point Lighthouse
• Christchurch Cathedral
• Coronet Peak Ski Area
• Cromwell Big Fruit Sculpture
• Dog Island Lighthouse
• Dunedin Law Courts
• Dunedin Railway Station
• Durie Hill Memorial Tower
• Edith Cavell Bridge
• Farewell Spit Lighthouse
• First Church of Otago
• Fo Guang Shan Temple
• Forsyth Barr Stadium
• Hell's Gate
• Hobbiton Village Matamata
• Hole in the Rock
• Hopwood Clock Tower
• Huntly Power Station
• Invercargill Water Tower
• Kawarau Gorge Suspension Br.
• Kerikeri Mission Station
• Larnach Castle
• Majestic Centre
• Mohaka Viaduct
• Mount Cargill Transmitter
• Mount John Univ. Observatory
• Mount Kaukau Transmitter
• Mus. of NZ Te Papa Tongarewa
• New Plymouth Power Station
• New Zealand Parl. Library
• New Zealand Parliament House
• North Harbour Stadium
• Ohaaki Power Station
• Ohakune Carrot
• Otira Viaduct
• Rakaia Bridges (road and rail)
• Rugby League Park
• Sky Tower
• Skyline Queenstown
• Sugarloaf Transmitter
• Taiaroa Head Lighthouse
• Taramakau Road-Rail Bridge
• Tekapo A Power Station
• The Church of Good Shepard
• The Remarkables Ski Area
• Tiritiri Matangi Lighthouse
• Titahi Bay Transmitter
• Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter
• TSS Earnslaw, Lake Wakatipu
• Waitangi Treaty Grounds
• Wellington Regional Stadium & Railway Station

• Gisborne Airport (NZGS)
• Milford Sound Airport (NZMF)
• Martins Bay Aerodrome (NZMJ)
• Gorge River Airstrip (NZQE)
• Rotorua Airport (NZRO)
• Lake Tekapo Airport (NZTL)
• Whangarei Airport (NZWR)
• Westport Airport (NZWS)
• Quintin Lodge Airstrip (T004)

• New Zealand’s North Island in a Textron Aviation Beechcraft Bonanza G36
• New Zealand’s South Island in a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter G950
• A historic recreation of the country’s first air route in a Douglas DC-3 Classic

• Auckland, the country’s largest city, in a Cessna 152
• Queenstown in a Guimbal Cabri G2 helicopter
• Lake Benmore in a DG Aviation DG-1001E neo glider

• A strong wind landing at Wellington Airport (NZWN) in an Airbus A320neo
• An epic landing at the Ryan’s Creek Aerodrome (NZRC) in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk
• A technical landing at Gorge River Airstrip (NZQE) in a Savage Cub
• A famous challenge in an Airbus A310-300 at Christchurch Airport (NZCH).

Following-up on our update from last week, the development team continues to prepare the first Sim Update 12 beta for release to those players who have opted in to receive test builds. We will have more information to share, including the SU12 beta patch notes, as soon as the test build is ready to be released to testers. Please note the update in today’s Development Roadmap that indicates the scheduled release date for SU12 has been pushed back by one week, now targeted for March 21.

SU12 isn’t the only update on the horizon, though. Coming next week on February 23, we are proud to release World Update 12: New Zealand. This update will include more accurate terrain elevation data plus dozens of new hand-crafted points of interest and bespoke airports. We’re excited for everyone to experience the updated version of New Zealand next week!

Last week’s issue that was affecting Live Weather has been resolved. Thank you for your patience and understanding as our teams worked to restore normal service for the Live Weather system.

MSFS Team

Click here to continue reading the Development Update!

Enjoy discounted pricing on Marketplace content from Big Radials!

For seven days starting on February 10th save up to 40% on the following items:

• JRF-6 Goose
• Nieuport 17
• P-40B Tomahawk

To purchase these discounted items, visit the Microsoft Flight Simulator Marketplace, select ‘Featured’, scroll down to ‘Special Offers’, then select ‘See All’ and look for the savings.

Hot off last week’s release of Aircraft & Avionics 1, the team is currently preparing for the next two major additions to Microsoft Flight Simulator: World Update 12: New Zealand and Sim Update 12. For the latter, we are currently in the final stages of preparing the first public test build. If you wish to help test SU12 and share your feedback and bug reports with the developers, watch closely for more information about how you can join the upcoming beta. If you were previously enrolled in the AAU1 beta and did not manually opt-out of future tests, then you will automatically download the SU12 beta build as soon as it is available without any further action needed.

The team is also aware of an ongoing issue affecting the Live Weather system. We have been monitoring player reports on the forums about this issue very closely. The current situation is that Live Weather is functioning normally for some people, working intermittently for others, and not working at all for some. The team believes they have identified the root cause of the issue and are working hard to resolve it. We will provide further status updates as we have more information.

MSFS Team

Click here to continue reading the Development Update!

Enjoy discounted pricing on Marketplace content from GearDown Simulations

For seven days starting on February 3rd save up to 72% on the following items:

• Pack Liveries Asobo A320 Asia & Middle East
  
• Pack Liveries Asobo A320 Europe
  
• Pack Liveries Asobo A320 Latino America
  
• Pack Liveries Asobo A320 Special
  
• SBGV Governador Valadares Airport
  
• SBJH Sao Paulo Catarina Executive International
  
• SBPR Carlos Prates Airport
  
• SBTV Terravista Airport
  
• SKSP Gustavo Rojas Pinilla Airport
  
• SNCT Ubaporanga Airport
  
• SNDT Diamantina Airport
  
• SNIH Fazenda Rio Negro Airport
  
• SNJM Manhuacu Airport
  
• SNPA Pará De Minas Airport
  
• SSDK São Pedro Airport
  
• SWPI Parintins Airport

To purchase these discounted items, visit the Microsoft Flight Simulator Marketplace, select ‘Featured’, scroll down to ‘Special Offers’, then select ‘See All’ and look for the savings.