Flight Simulator Gets an Enhanced U.S. Flight Experience

Microsoft announced today that it has released its second World Update for Flight Simulator, which provides an enhanced flight experience in the United States.

“World Update II: USA features an improved digital elevation model with resolution up to one meter, new aerial textures that significantly improve the appearance in several states across the country, and four new hand-crafted airports (Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Friday Harbor, and New York Stewart),” Microsoft Jorg Neumann says. “We’ve also made visual improvements to 48 other airports and added 50 new high-fidelity points of interest across the country to make your state-side journey stunning in every way.”

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It also provides new activities via new Discovery Flights through some iconic locations on each coast, which might be a nice diversion during the pandemic.

World Update II: USA is free for Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox Game Pass for PC, Windows 10, and Steam.

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Conversation 7 comments

  • madthinus

    Premium Member
    24 November, 2020 - 12:40 pm

    <p>Hopefully someday they can release an update to the terrible game engine, running single threaded and not with DX12. </p>

  • Brazbit

    24 November, 2020 - 12:49 pm

    <p>This version of Flight Simulator is so gorgeous. I had it running decently, but my computer couldn't handle the video card for long without developing issues. As soon as I can upgrade I am getting back into this as it was a great diversion during my self quarantine.</p>

  • sammyg

    24 November, 2020 - 12:55 pm

    <p>Is this ever coming out for the Xbox? I have the XSX, the MOST powerful console ever, or so they told us. Bonus they make both the game and the console. It is like MacOS and the new M1 Mac's they work better together.</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      25 November, 2020 - 8:48 am

      Yes, but no release date yet.

  • davidl

    24 November, 2020 - 12:55 pm

    <p>Looking forward to Xbox Series X-optimized version of this…will save me $5k on a new gaming rig.</p>

    • flying_maverick

      Premium Member
      24 November, 2020 - 1:40 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#595424">In reply to davidl:</a></em></blockquote><p>I'm waiting for the same thing. I wish they would be more transparent on when support for Xbox Series X|S will come. </p>

  • Vladimir Carli

    Premium Member
    24 November, 2020 - 1:34 pm

    <p>Unfortunately this has been a huge disappointment for me, at least until now. It looks amazing, it has a great wow factor. Every graphical detail, from the scenery to the weather to the lightning leaves you breathless. But that's about it. It's full of bugs, the included planes are very limited in terms of simulation, it's almost impossible to make a flight from A to B without running into absurd problems. What I find staggering is that they continue to improve how it looks but disregard everything else. At each update they break more things. As I was saying, I am very disappointed</p>

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