Welcome to the second of our newly formatted Development Updates from the Microsoft Flight Simulator team! Thanks to community feedback, we shifted the focus of our regular weekly blogs (now renamed the “Weekly Briefing”) to contain a quick snapshot of high-level MSFS news, Marketplace releases/updates, Community Updates, and of course the much-loved Screenshot Challenge. Development Updates such as this one will be published shortly after a Developer Stream and will include more comprehensive information about recent and future MSFS development plans including:

• • Upcoming Release Schedule
  • Developer Livestream Recap
  • Updated Development Roadmap
  • Other Announcements

Upcoming Release Schedule

During the September 16, 2026 Developer Livestream, the panel revealed some exciting new updates coming to Microsoft Flight Simulator soon!

National Championship Air Races

The National Championship Air Races activity is returning to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on October 13th, FREE for all players!

• With Sim Update 7, players will be able to experience the thrill of the National Championship Air Races once again in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, with the brand new course in Roswell, New Mexico having been recreated in stunning detail. Players will also be able to try their hand at competing in a new race class: STOL Drag! With 44 aircraft receiving updates for this returning activity, players now need to watch out for flight model elements such as wake turbulence, wear & tear, and engine management. You’ll also be able to host private lobby races with all of your friends, with scheduled races planned for release in 2027. While the activity will be free to play, there is an optional $40 aircraft package where players can fly using their favorite real-world NCAR aircraft paint-schemes! Those who previously purchased the Reno Air Races DLC in MSFS 2020 will receive this for free.

Sim Update 7

Sim Update 7 is targeted for release on all platforms (PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 / PlayStation 5 Pro) on October 13th! Amongst fixes and improvements across all aspects of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, some of the goals of SU7 include:

Aircraft & Avionics Update 6

Aircraft & Avionics Update 6 is planned for release later this month on September 29th. This will update the following aircraft to native MSFS 2024 standards:

• Dornier DO J “WAL”
• Dornier DO X
• Dornier DO 31
• Junkers F13
• Junkers JU52

Additional Aircraft & Avionics Updates to improve other Local Legends and Famous Flyers (specific aircraft TBA) are also planned for future release.

World Update 23 Announced

World Update 23: Poland and The Baltics (October 2026)

• We’re exciting to be releasing World Update 23: Poland and The Baltics, next month in October 2026! This region has been the top-requested area to be updated via a World Update (after Brazil, which launched in 2025) since the launch of Microsoft Flight Simulator.
• Some of the cities receiving updated photogrammetry include:
  • Tallinn, Estonia
  • Riga, Latvia
  • Kaunas and Vilnius, Lithuania
  • Gdansk and Warsaw, Poland
• Players can also expect to enjoy:
  • 12 New Areas of Interest (AOIs)
  • 5 New Hand-Crafted Airports
  • 77 New Points of Interest (POIs)
  • 3 Discovery Flights (MSFS 2024 & MSFS 2020)
  • 5 Precision Landings (MSFS 2024) and 4 Landing Challenges (MSFS 2020)
  • 1 Rally Race Challenge (MSFS 2024)
  • 1 Guided Tour (MSFS 2024)

Local Legend Announced

Local Legend 26: Antonov AN-28 by AT Simulations (October 2026)

• Coinciding with the release of World Update 23: Poland and The Baltics, we’ll also be releasing our next Local Legend aircraft in the form of the iconic Antonov AN-28, developed by AT Simulations. With over 10 liveries, multiple cabin options, and authentic systems, this will be a must grab for fans of soviet era aircraft!

Expert Series 3 Sneak Peek

• Expert Series 03: Embraer 600 Praetor by Asobo and Working Title (November 2026)
  • Matt Nischan from Working Title joined us once again to provide an update on recent development work for the Embraer 600 Praetor, which was also announced to be releasing on November 24th!
• Players can expect some of the following features to discover detail at every level:
  • Collaborations with Asobo (3D Art) as well as Boris Audio Works and Microsoft (Sound Recording and Design)
  • Numerous pilot accessible panels such as the hydraulics service panel, manual fueling/defueling panel, Ram Air Turbine panel and much more!
  • An immersive cabin with individually controllable lighting, interactable tray tables, and even lavatory equipment
  • A complete avionics suite with authentic HUD experience, over 900 pages of electronic checklists, on-screen charts, advanced flight planning capabilities, advanced fly-by-wire control system, plus much more
  • Systems that teach: a full suite of circuit breakers, physics-based systems modeling down to individual valves, pumps, actuators etc., an EFB app with systems pages for interactable components

Developer Livestream Recap

In case you weren’t able to tune in live, you can click the YouTube link above to join our Community Manager Matt as he talks to Jorg Neumann, Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator, Sebastian Wloch, C.E.O. of Asobo Studio, and Martial Bossard, Executive Producer of Asobo Studio, to learn about what’s coming up in MSFS 2020 and 2024. During the broadcast, the panel answered many questions from YOU the flight simmer community! We responded to questions that were both pre-submitted in advance and also many that were asked live by viewers in Twitch chat. You can see the full agenda (including YouTube timestamp links to each section of the broadcast) in the list below:

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Introductions
• 02:35 Releases since the last Dev Stream
• 09:12 Roadmap through August 2026
• 10:24 Q&A 1: General 1
• 18:04 Terrain & Object LOD System
• 29:08 Q&A 1: General 2
• 40:02 EFB Ground Services App Preview with Chris Burnett from Working Title
• 45:32 Q&A 2: Aircraft & Avionics
• 49:37 Expert Series 3 Praetor 600 Preview with Matt Nischan from Working Title
• 59:59 Q&A 3: Career Mode & Activities
• 01:06:56 Q&A 4: World & Weather
• 01:22:19 World Update 23 Poland & The Baltics
• 01:25:06 Local Legend 25: Antonov AN-28
• 01:40:32 Q&A 5: Marketplace
• 01:47:28 Upcoming Releases Recap
• 01:49:03 National Championship Air Races with Tony Logoteta
• 01:57:28 Upcoming Releases Recap Continued
• 01:57:48 Updated Roadmap for 2026
• 01:59:06 Thanks for watching!

Other Announcements

The Microsoft Flight Simulator team are currently on-site attending the National Championship Air Races and Show in Roswell, New Mexico! If you’re attending the races this week, go and find the MSFS booth where you’ll be able to meet some members of the team alongside having the opportunity to try the newly updated National Championship Air Races activity in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 before launch next month!

Final thoughts

That’s all for the second of our newly-formatted Development Update, thanks for making it to the end! If you wish to provide feedback on this new style, please head to our forums: Microsoft Flight Simulator Forums

Sincerely,

Microsoft Flight Simulator Team