Microsoft and Asobo Studio have announced the upcoming release of World Update 17 for Microsoft Flight Simulator, focusing on a comprehensive overhaul of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Set to launch already next week, this update revisits and significantly enhances regions previously covered in World Update 3 from 2021, addressing community feedback and incorporating the latest technological advancements in scenery development.
During the latest developer stream, Jörg Neumann, Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator, unveiled the details of this expansive update. Despite the stream being shorter than usual due to team holidays, it packed a punch with exciting announcements for simmers!
One of the most significant improvements in World Update 17 is the enhanced elevation data for the British Isles. Previously, areas like Ireland and Scotland suffered from low-resolution terrain data, often at a coarse 20-30 meter resolution. The new update dramatically improves this, with most of the UK and Ireland now featuring at least 2-meter resolution terrain data. Some areas, particularly around London and northern England, will feature even more detailed elevation models, reaching up to 50-100cm resolution.
The update introduces or enhances photogrammetry for 13 major cities across the region:
London, in particular, receives a complete overhaul. The existing photogrammetry has been replaced with a newly created 3D city model that leverages the latest advancements in photogrammetry technology. The coverage area has been significantly expanded to include the vicinity of Heathrow Airport, with resolution potentially reaching an impressive 3cm in some areas.
Five airports have been carefully recreated for the update:
Most of these airports were developed by Gaya Simulations, a partner studio of Microsoft. However, Farnborough Airport was created by iniBuilds, timed perfectly with the upcoming Farnborough Air Show. This new Farnborough scenery will feature a special “airshow configuration” that activates during the corresponding real-world event dates, complete with static displays and crowds.
There are dozens of new points of interest that have been added across the region, including:
Coverage extends beyond just Great Britain and Ireland, with POIs also added for Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, and even Gibraltar.
While the primary focus of the developer stream was World Update 17, keen-eyed viewers could spot some intriguing details in the 2024 roadmap image shared during the presentation. Although Jörg Neumann refrained from specifying details about Local Legend 18 during the stream, a small thumbnail image in the roadmap appears to show a Westland Scout helicopter.
This British-designed aircraft would be a fitting addition to complement the UK and Ireland update, further enhancing the regional authenticity for rotorcraft enthusiasts.
Additionally, the roadmap image seemed to contain another potential “leak”. The placeholder for an upcoming Famous Flyer aircraft had “Caravelle” written below it. The Caravelle was a pioneering French short/medium-range jet airliner from the 1950s, and while not officially confirmed, it would be a welcome addition for those interested in the golden age of commercial aviation!
While this update focuses on the current version of Microsoft Flight Simulator, Neumann hinted at forthcoming announcements regarding MSFS 2024. He advised that more substantial information about the next-generation simulator would be shared over the coming eight weeks.
